Overreactions from Sixers’ first week of season: Joel Embiid is even better
Joel Embiid‘s talent is well-documented. He’s one of the most dominant per-minute scorers in NBA history, and his second-place finish in MVP voting last season cemented his status among the upper echelon of NBA players. We have come to expect great things every night.
So far, Embiid has delivered on those expectations. A minor knee injury led to a minutes restriction of sorts against Brooklyn, and his raw counting stats don’t look particularly special — 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists on 43.8 percent shooting — but the big fella looks primed for another year of elite production. In fact, he might be even better than last season.
The scoring numbers will improve naturally as the season progresses. Embiid’s mid-range jumper still looks buttery, he has hit 50 percent of his 3s through two games, and there is no more physically imposing player on the block. On top of that, his passing looks much improved. Embiid talked all preseason about becoming a more purposeful playmaker, and he has walked the walk so far. His 4.5 assists don’t even tell the full story. His quick reads of double teams and impressive vision on cross-court passes signal a real evolution of his offensive approach.
Embiid has been his typically dominant self on defense, to boot. There aren’t many players who can impact both sides of the ball like Embiid when he’s locked in. The knee issue is a mild concern, especially this early in the season, but barring any extended absences, he is right in line for another MVP-caliber campaign.