The Legend of Joel Embiid

[BullyKing]

1) Which players in history most compare to 7'2" 275 pound Joel Embiid?

2) When it is all said and done, will Joel Embiid play in more than 500 games in a career? He's at 31 regular season games right now after three seasons.

Im thinking his absolute ceiling is a rich man's version of young Ardyvas Sabonis, minus the outlier passing skills. But I think he ends up being far more fortunate with his health than the broken-down version of Sabonis that was still an amazing talent in the NBA. So I have him at over 500 games played in a career. I'd love to find out that he ended up playing into his 40s like Robert Parish, but I think we all know we have a Faustian bargain of sorts - we have one of the most incredible basketball prospects that ever lived, and we have accepted that every game we watch him in may be his last, more than anyone else that captured the fanbase's imagination.

We never worried about these things with Wilt, Doc, Barkley, or Iverson. With Embiid? Every game he plays in will be must see for the diehards, because it just might be his last. It's both terrifying and thrilling, and when you add his personality, which has strong whiffs of Ali in it, it makes Joel Embiid the most exciting attraction in town, bar none.

Crossing sports here but I could see Jojo becoming like Eric Lindros. Just complete domination when he is able to play but availability will always be an issue.

I cannot bear the thought of the Embiid version of the Scott Stevens hit on Lindross. Everyone knew nothing would be the same again after that hit. Everyone.

I still remember where I was watching the game and you're right - you knew it was over for him in Philly immediately. I just hope we can get to the point where Joel where I don't go into cardiac arrest every time he hits the ground.

[eagereyez]

Embiid's meniscus tear was a result of improper landing technique and inadequate strength in his balance muscles. You could tell he had issues with his balance by how ungraceful and herky-jerky his movements were. Combine his explosiveness with his lack of balance and an injury was just waiting to happen. That said both of these issues are fixable with proper training. Once he becomes a more fluid athlete I expect the injury probability to go way down. With experience he will also become a smarter athlete and rely less on his athleticism as he minimizes his mistakes. I am very optimistic with the outlook for Embiid's future. If he re-broke his navicular then it would be time to panic.

[cksdayoff]

the fact that he hyperextended his knee not once, but twice in the same game should've gotten someone fired. if he had gotten taken out after the first hyperextension, the meniscus tear might not have been as severe.

every dunk he ever does from now on has to be going straight up near the rim, none of this driving into the paint and going in for a monster slam where his momentum is carrying him forward and he's about to come down at an angle because he can't control his body

[eyeatoma]

the fact that he hyperextended his knee not once, but twice in the same game should've gotten someone fired. if he had gotten taken out after the first hyperextension, the meniscus tear might not have been as severe.

every dunk he ever does from now on has to be going straight up near the rim, none of this driving into the paint and going in for a monster slam where his momentum is carrying him forward and he's about to come down at an angle because he can't control his body

LMAO yeah good luck telling him that... All he needs to do is hang on the rim more and land on two feet... You really think he's not going to drive to the rim lol... If he can't actually do that, he might as well retire, that's a huge part of his game, and takes a lot of fun out of it... I think more training on landing, lower body strength etc. is what he needs...

[Simmons25]

the fact that he hyperextended his knee not once, but twice in the same game should've gotten someone fired. if he had gotten taken out after the first hyperextension, the meniscus tear might not have been as severe.

every dunk he ever does from now on has to be going straight up near the rim, none of this driving into the paint and going in for a monster slam where his momentum is carrying him forward and he's about to come down at an angle because he can't control his body

I actually think he first hurt his knee against Brooklyn in late December. It was the game where off an inbounds play I think Henderson threw it to Embiid and it went over his head with 2 seconds left and Brooklyn almost stole the game from a turnover. Embiid had to dive to try and save the ball and came up hobbling and as he ran towards the rooms. He was hobbling so bad he had to sit down on a seat clutching his knee. The broadcast cut away just as it happened so not much was ever said about it but it definitely looked like some sort of tear to me.

He played through it for another 10 or so games until he hurt it further against Portland and then stupidly played against Houston where they shut him down for the season.

[Ericb5]

the fact that he hyperextended his knee not once, but twice in the same game should've gotten someone fired. if he had gotten taken out after the first hyperextension, the meniscus tear might not have been as severe.

every dunk he ever does from now on has to be going straight up near the rim, none of this driving into the paint and going in for a monster slam where his momentum is carrying him forward and he's about to come down at an angle because he can't control his body

I actually think he first hurt his knee against Brooklyn in late December. It was the game where off an inbounds play I think Henderson threw it to Embiid and it went over his head with 2 seconds left and Brooklyn almost stole the game from a turnover. Embiid had to dive to try and save the ball and came up hobbling and as he ran towards the rooms. He was hobbling so bad he had to sit down on a seat clutching his knee. The broadcast cut away just as it happened so not much was ever said about it but it definitely looked like some sort of tear to me.

He played through it for another 10 or so games until he hurt it further against Portland and then stupidly played against Houston where they shut him down for the season.

In retrospect, you might be right about that. He was still basically fine though until the Portland game even if the injury happened before. The bone bruise exacerbated it I suppose.

Letting him play in the Houston game was a brutal decision though. Despite the injury, watch those highlights. It was one of his best games, and it was the last game he played this year.


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[kuclas]

With real point guards. Embiid will be given the ball in much better spots than last year. Embiid had to create his own shots (which his is fully capabale of doing) from so far out near three point land.

This coming season. He won't need to pump fake and drive. He can just pass the ball off the Simmons and get in better position lower. I still expect him to take 3 pointers. But I fully expect less drives from way out there. He doesn't need to do it.

[Chris76]

With real point guards. Embiid will be given the ball in much better spots than last year. Embiid had to create his own shots (which his is fully capabale of doing) from so far out near three point land.

This coming season. He won't need to pump fake and drive. He can just pass the ball off the Simmons and get in better position lower. I still expect him to take 3 pointers. But I fully expect less drives from way out there. He doesn't need to do it.

Good points. Embiid should be able to get better position down low, a much healthier game for him and his career. Furthermore, with better guard play, Okafor should get better looks, too.

[sixerswillrule]

With real point guards. Embiid will be given the ball in much better spots than last year. Embiid had to create his own shots (which his is fully capabale of doing) from so far out near three point land.

This coming season. He won't need to pump fake and drive. He can just pass the ball off the Simmons and get in better position lower. I still expect him to take 3 pointers. But I fully expect less drives from way out there. He doesn't need to do it.

I agree. I'm expecting a jump in 2P% and his turnovers to come back down to earth.

[Unbreakable99]

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[Unbreakable99]

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[SexDrugsPnR]

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these TMZ "reporters" with their stalking and their ridiculous "interviews" are absolute scum. what kind of questions are these? if you can't think of anything better to ask the man, just leave him alone.

[Simmons25]

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Love the first question... "Why doesn't Markelle Fultz ever smile?"

I think if I ever saw myself becoming a photog for TMZ that would be when I'd probably decide its time to put a bullet through my head and end this journey.

[Aussiepiston1]

I'm a hope for the best prepare for the worst type of guy so I'm projecting a eastern conference all star appearance for Embiid this year playing 65-70 games and us making it to the playoffs as a 6th seed.
He is going to be a beast and a healthy one at that, speak it into existence.

[Unbreakable99]

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these TMZ "reporters" with their stalking and their ridiculous "interviews" are absolute scum. what kind of questions are these? if you can't think of anything better to ask the man, just leave him alone.

That's their job to ask questions. Embiid needs to be smart about how to answer. They know Embiid may say something funny or crazy so you ask him leading questions to see what he might say. It's not hard to not say something dumb.

[SexDrugsPnR]

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these TMZ "reporters" with their stalking and their ridiculous "interviews" are absolute scum. what kind of questions are these? if you can't think of anything better to ask the man, just leave him alone.

That's their job to ask questions. Embiid needs to be smart about how to answer. They know Embiid may say something funny or crazy so you ask him leading questions to see what he might say. It's not hard to not say something dumb.

it's a sad job and these questions are about as awkward as 16 year old me trying to casually chat up a girl that's way out of my league.

[76ciology]

If Embiid plays on not limited minutes on this charity game in africa then im confident with his health.

[Sixerscan]

If Embiid plays on not limited minutes on this charity game in africa then im confident with his health.

They've already said he isn't playing.

[76ciology]

If Embiid plays on not limited minutes on this charity game in africa then im confident with his health.

They've already said he isn't playing.

Oh..

[76ciology]

I watched how CP3 and Harden were playing pick up basketball recently. CP3's knee is rumored to have a degenerative knee. I believe similar with Bynum. And I could be wrong. That said, I don't mean that I want Embiid to risk it but it atleast showed some concern from his people.