Many thought Joel Embiid's devastating knee injury would limit his dominant stature for the rest of his career. However, his latest performances has shown that Embiid is still a world-class talent who can carry his franchise to the promised land of an NBA championship. Despite these exceptional showings of class, the NBA coaches who selected the All-Star reserves shockingly omitted Embiid from the list, clarifying that this game is now a glorified popularity contest.
For several years now, fans of the NBA have questioned the format of the All-Star game and contested whether the prestigious weekend still holds the same clamour as it once did. Seemingly, these queries have substance, as players who are not exhibiting star quality throughout the current campaign have been undeservedly awarded one of the highest honours in the world of basketball.
Since returning from injury, Embiid has not only regained a high percentage of the physical attributes that made him one of the most feared centers in the league, but his rate of scoring has gained serious momentum. This season, the 31-year-old has averaged 26.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 49% from the floor.
Additionally, Embiid has recorded 30+ points on 10 occasions this season. The most recent of which came in the Philadelphia 76ers' 124-114 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Embiid scored 40 points in 39 minutes during the victory, showcasing that his performances are nearing the optimum level.
Joel's improved form means little to the selection committee
The All-Star reserves are selected differently from the starting cast. Seven NBA coaches have chosen seven stars from each conference who feature on the reserve list. Is this really the fairest method to select who attends a prestigious event? Are we really going to suggest that this process is purely down to a player's credentials and not who the coaches have had previous relationships with?
Case in point, LeBron James. Yes, LeBron has had a stunning career. His longevity and consistency have intertwined to create arguably the greatest individual career a player has ever had. However, based on his showings this season, it is ludicrous that he will be attending All-Star weekend. To insinuate this was not a biased decision by the selection committee would surely be incorrect.
Albeit they play in different positions, LeBron's numbers are dwarfed by Embiid's, with the 41-year-old recording 21.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.
Questions must also be raised about the inclusion of the New York Knicks center, Karl-Anthony Towns. The former Minnesota Timberwolves big man is averaging 19.1 points per game (his lowest average since his rookie year), while shooting 46.1% from the floor (the worst percentage of his career).
The mere numbers alone are enough to signify that Joel Embiid should have been selected for the All-Star weekend in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, it appears that LeBron James' star power in California has trumped actual performances, proving that this once wonderful occasion has become a popularity contest rather than a fixture celebrating the NBA's greatest players.