Ranking every player on the Sixers’ 2021-22 roster

Ranking every player on the Sixers roster — 1. Joel Embiid

No contest. Joel Embiid was the only player to receive the same placement from all seven writers — the No. 1 spot. He is not only the Sixers’ best player, but after last season, he is arguably the NBA’s best player. With another MVP campaign on the horizon, Embiid faces arguably his toughest challenge yet.

Embiid ascended from a great offensive player to an elite offensive player last season. He bumped up his efficiency across the board, from 3-point range to the mid-range. He torched defenses at every level, from virtually every spot. He even became a better passer, or at the very least, a more proactive passer. His drastic improvement reading double teams opened the door for a lot. He averaged 28.5 points on 51.3 percent shooting.

There is also room for Embiid to improve even further. He’s still not a great passer, and would do well to become a more purposeful playmaker in the absence of Ben Simmons. He will never be Nikola Jokic, but Embiid’s physicality opens a lot of passing windows. He needs only to jump through them.

In addition to his elite offense, Embiid is an elite defender. Like, on the same level as Rudy Gobert and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Just an elite, system-breaking defender who virtually guarantees an effective team defense. The Sixers have been blessed with strong defenders around Embiid, but his mobility in space, razor-sharp instincts, and hulking 7-foot frame make him one of a kind.

Injuries continue to linger in the shadows for Embiid, who has yet to make it through a season (and a postseason) fully healthy. With his size and physicality, it’s only natural that bumps and bruises accumulate. That said, conditioning remains ever-important to not only Embiid’s success, but the Sixers’ longstanding championship aspirations.