If you combined three all-time NBA centers, what current day player would you get? If you guessed Joel Embiid, you are correct. Who are these legends, and what blend of their skills does the Philadelphia 76ers’ center showcase?
Joel Embiid is in a league of his own. No other big man on the planet can impact a game the way he does on BOTH sides of the ball. As a true center, he posts up with frequency, punishing an opponent on the block on any given night. Yet, he can draw that same defender out to the 3-point line and launch a shot with career-high accuracy. No need to mention Embiid’s midrange game, which is unparalleled. Take a look at his shooting spots for a single game and the court will be dotted all over like a Union war map targeting Confederate bases in the south. The man’s diverse shooting skill is just that nasty.
Defensively, Embiid claims the title of supreme beast of the paint. He towers over smaller opponents, making them think twice about two things every time — should I shoot it, and if I do, how high should I change my arc? Against opponents his own size, well, just look at how Embiid dominates Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Andre Drummond. The effect he has on his peers is astounding, which is why this analysis comes at a time when the NBA big man was on its way to extinction. We have Joel Embiid to thank for the sudden halt.
Whether he is playing offense or defense, Joel Embiid has the rare ability to single-handedly decide the outcome of a game. He is in a unique category that NBA fans of yesteryear can relate to because of the kind of game Embiid plays. In an NBA world filled with a plethora of forwards and guards who run to the 3-point line now more than ever, Joel Embiid possesses traits similar to legendary big men who once played in a more rugged era.
Let’s take a look at how Joel Embiid is the perfect blend of several NBA Hall of Fame centers.
Sixers: Processing the Admiral
In the late 80s, the San Antonio Spurs were looking to emerge from the cellar of the Western Conference. For much of the decade, the team was in disarray, hoping to earn good fortune in the draft. Then, as luck would have it — along with some pretty bad losing — they struck gold with the number one pick in the 1987 draft. Their selection would change the trajectory of franchise and offer hope for the future.
That year, the Spurs took David Robinson at the first overall pick. He was a college phenom, playing for the Navy, and breaking college records along the way. Although Joel Embiid did not have the same prolific college career as Robinson, they both did have to wait some time before playing their first NBA game. Robinson’s career was on hold due to his military commitment, and Embiid missed his first two years due to injury. Once they stepped onto the floor, NBA teams wished the two had still been inactive.
Robinson’s skill as a big man was remarkable, quite similar to Joel Embiid. Just what common traits do they share? We can start with offense.
Embiid has some Admiral in him because of the versatility he shows in the post. As a lefty, Robinson would back down his defender and use a range of moves to score at will most times. Embiid has proven effective in the same situation. Embiid can also showcase his mid-range jumpers and can take a slower man off the dribble the way Robinson used to do. Their ability to finish with power is comparable, and they both did a tremendous job drawing fouls. The shooting edge goes to Embiid though, posting better shooting percentages across the board.
Defensively, Embiid has some Admiral in him, but Robinson was a far better defender. In the 90s, the Spurs’ center dominated as a rim protector and earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year. That season, he averaged 4.5 blocks per game. That is not a typo by the way. He also averaged 2.3 steals and 12.2 rebounds a game that year. If Embiid wants to earn those same stats, he may have to hit the treadmill more and pump more iron because Robinson could leap out the gym and was as ripped and muscular as a young Dwight Howard.
In the end, David Robinson became a champion under Gregg Popovich, playing alongside Tim Duncan. Will Embiid reach those heights with Doc Rivers and Ben Simmons? Sixers fans can only hope.
Sixers: A Little Hoya in a Jayhawk
One of the most dominant basketball players in collegiate history was Patrick Ewing. Coming out of Georgetown, he was seen as the next Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell. He was that good, and the New York Knicks were determined to reclaim basketball glory by making Ewing the first overall pick in 1985. In his prime, he gave Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls a run for their money every postseason. Ewing collected multiple All-Star selections, earned All-Defensive team status, and was awarded Rookie of the Year. Although Joel Embiid has not collected as much hardware as Ewing, their similarities are apparent.
Offensively, Patrick Ewing was the king of the mid range jump shot when he was at the top of his game. He could use his nifty moves to free himself up for an open shot, perhaps with a turn around spin. Additionally, if Mark Jackson or Doc Rivers penetrated, Ewing could nail the spot up jumper. Embiid seems to hold the ball more, attempting to draw a double team with all of the 3-point shooters around him now, but he now wears the crown for mid-range jump shooting. Embiid, similar to Ewing, can throw the rock down in traffic or in an open lane — those who have tried to contest either big man met their posterization with regret.
Defensively, Embiid roams the paint like Ewing used to do, both intimidating guards and forwards foolish enough to challenge the centers. Ewing though, asserted himself more in the shot blocking department, averaging four blocks a game in the 1989-1990 season. The most Embiid has averaged so far is 2.5 blocks his rookie year.
Embiid’s game is like Ewing’s in a number of ways, but Sixers fans will have to wait and see if the Process can bring home a Larry O’Brien trophy, which is something Ewing was unable to do in his NBA career.
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?