RealGM

Tatum is the more versatile defender, and can guard 1-4, while Embiid is more of a rim protector and so - you may say - more limited as a switchable defender. Though one has yet to make all defense teams, and another was considered a DPOY candidate.

How do you evaluate their impact as defenders one versus the other?

Healthy Embiid is probably a top 5 defender in the league, Tatum is really good but he’s not on kind of caliber.

Embiid's defense is usually higher but ever since his MVP candidate years he's taking a step back. Tatum has been consistent but I always felt there were better defenders and he's just a cog in the Boston machine.

Tatum.

Embiid has looked pretty bad on defense lately. Half the time, he's not even playing defense with how often he hits the floor.

Embiid definitely has the much higher ceililng. But I find them similar in that despite all their tools, so often neither one is all that effective. Some of that is the loads they carry offensively.