Sixers: A Dream of the Process
From the moment he scored his first basket in the NBA, Joel Embiid was compared to the All-Time NBA great, Hakeem Olajuwon. This next comparison hits closer to home than any of the previously mentioned centers. Why you might inquire? Could it be they were both born in Africa? Is it because their identical footwork skills developed as a result from a youthful start in the sport of soccer? Maybe it is because Embiid was projected to be the number one NBA draft pick in his class, while Olajuwon went first in the 1984 draft? Let’s dissect the many reasons why Joel Embiid could be considered a mirror image of Hakeem Olajuwon,
With the ball in his hands, Embiid has shown how lethal he can be. In the 80s and 90s, Olajuwon was the same. During his time with Houston, Hakeem “the Dream” was the primary option to score. He had an array of moves that Youtube can verify while Olajuwon would mystify in the same breath. The moves he had were unlike anyone the NBA had ever seen. Merging quickness, agility, and skill the way Olajuwon did is something that Embiid, himself, found inspiring. Should you juxtapose their post moves, it would be like juxtaposing Kobe Bryant’s fadeaway jumper to Michael Jordan’s. They are THAT similar.
Like the previous centers mentioned, Embiid lacks the defensive numbers that Olajuwon was able to accumulate over a lengthy career. In fact, he averaged more than four blocks per game during three different seasons! He also led the league in rebounds twice and brought home the Defensive Player of the Year award twice. Most impressively, he recorded a quadruple double in 1990, posting a stat sheet that looked like this:18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, and 11 blocks. It is safe to say that Hakeem Olajuwon was the most complete big man since Wilt Chamberlain.
In 1994, the NBA MVP trophy was awarded to Olajuwon. This year, Embiid could hoist that same trophy. What would be even nicer for Philly fans is if a Finals MVP trophy could be raised, instead. If Embiid commits himself to excellence the way Hakeem Olajuwon did, every NBA fan will have to acquiesce to this idea.
So, what do all of these comparisons mean for Joel Hans Embiid? It means that he has the tools to achieve greatness. It also means that he is in the right company of All-Time centers that, if internalized and realized, could motivate him to lead his team to the NBA Finals one day. If Embiid swats shots at the same rate as the Admiral, shakes his defenders out of their shoes like Olajuwon, and constantly knocks down mid range shots like Ewing once did, the 76ers will bring home a championship. The way he has been playing this season shows that this special blend of Hall of Fame talent can elevate Philly to another level.
In June, we would all love to see a combination of those great centers manifest through the image of the beloved Process. The ball is now in Embiid’s hands. Will he deliver?