Ranking every Sixers player — 1. Joel Embiid
This should come as no surprise, even after the arrival of a former MVP and all-time great in James Harden. The Sixers are Joel Embiid’s team. The MVP favorite is currently leading the NBA in scoring (29.6 points per game) while contributing vastly in other areas (11.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.0 steal). He has been quite possibly the best player in the NBA this season, with Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo — two players on all-time great trajectories — serving as his only real competition.
Embiid has taken his game to another level this season. He’s reading double teams quicker than ever, transforming from a turnover liability into a genuine playmaker. He’s letting the game come to him, rather than forcing the ball down opponents’ throats. That has in turn made him an even better scorer, with the patience, footwork, and touch to beat virtually any defender put in front of him.
With Embiid becoming a gifted passer on top of a gifted three-level scorer, there’s really not much defenses can do to stop him. He’s too physically dominant to contain one-on-one — he forces free throws better than anyone in the league, except maybe James Harden — and when doubled, he can now spray well-timed and well-placed passes to the Sixers’ assortment of perimeter weapons.
On top of that, Embiid is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate who defends in drop coverage as well as any big in the NBA. He has the size and speed to make swift recoveries and blow up plays at the rim, and the footwork to stick with guards on the perimeter without fouling. He might not win the award, but Embiid’s two-way impact has been on display more than ever this season due to Ben Simmons’ holdout.