Peak Embiid on all-time centers list

[Ambrose]

There are for sure nine guys I'd take over him, and then a handful of others that are debatable. I would say he is probably not currently in my top 10.

[Woodsanity]

This takes me back a bit to the peak Harden era when we were watching one of the most dominant and prolific scoring seasons ever but then watching opponents chip away at that pretty successfully in the playoffs. It's confusing to watch a season like Embiid had this year, acknowledge that we almost never see seasons like that, but then have that thinking evaporate a bit when the playoffs don't go well. It's hard to reconcile both truths into an all-time ranking for a player.

At least JoJo has a strong defensive impact in the postseason though, which I feel like has to be a pretty big differentiator.

Harden would still be better offensively due to his passing ability.

Embiid is a good defender but not really elite defensively. Pretty much every center ranked higher than him besides Jokic or Shaq is far better defensively.

Still can't get over how Embiid got cooked by Tatum on 100 TS% in game 7. He is an even bigger liability than Jokic in pick and roll.

[IdolW0rm]

Not top 10.

What's your top 10?

I have him below Shaq, Kareem, Walton, Wilt, Russell, Duncan, Robinson, Hakeem, Jokic, Ewing, Moses and Mourning peaks. No order.
So like 13th.

[SpreeS]

Where would you rank peak Embiid on your all-time centers list? Would he make your top 10?

I'm interested in your thoughts before I share my opinion.

The first player came to my mind - Willis Reed.

1970
All-Star MVP
RS MVP
Finals MVP
1st All-def
1st All-nba
Also should be DPOY that year

He won against teams with players like Unseld, KAJ, Wilt, Baylor, West in PO

And he was mentioned once in this thread. Embiid isnt close to Reed peak, so he is out of top10 for sure

[SpreeS]

I looked closely to top10 peaks and found out that Embiid has a chance if Duncan is PF

Lock for 10

Wilt
Russell
KAJ
O’Neal
Hakeem
Jokic
D-Rob
Moses
Reed

These guys would be considered for the last spot

Ewing
Embiid
Howard
Mikan
Walton

[70sFan]

Where would you rank peak Embiid on your all-time centers list? Would he make your top 10?

I'm interested in your thoughts before I share my opinion.

The first player came to my mind - Willis Reed.

1970
All-Star MVP
RS MVP
Finals MVP
1st All-def
1st All-nba
Also should be DPOY that year

He won against teams with players like Unseld, KAJ, Wilt, Baylor, West in PO

And he was mentioned once in this thread. Embiid isnt close to Reed peak, so he is out of top10 for sure

I actually consider Reed's peak ahead of Embiid as well, though his 1969 season was arguably even better than 1970, despite lesser accolades.

[penbeast0]

Hmm....I kinda have to make out a list to see where I think he falls:

Shaq
Wilt
Kareem
Hakeem
Robinson
Jokic
Walton
Russell (probably)

After that, I feel he has a case. Not a guarantee top 10, but battling for the next few spots with Ewing, Moses, Howard, Mourning, Reed (Mikan I have too much skepticism about given era, though he probably makes my top 20 center peaks; Gilmore might be in the mix toward the back, too???).

So I would say definitely top 15, maybe top 10.

It depends on how you look at Duncan and Davis, because I would take both over him.

Peak Duncan, sure, if he's counting as a C not a PF. Bubble Davis, yeah, probably until Joel has a big playoff run. Reed is a strong candidate but I thought they gave him a lot of the credit that should have gone to Frazier that year, a 1A/!B situation.

[70sFan]

Hmm....I kinda have to make out a list to see where I think he falls:

Shaq
Wilt
Kareem
Hakeem
Robinson
Jokic
Walton
Russell (probably)

After that, I feel he has a case. Not a guarantee top 10, but battling for the next few spots with Ewing, Moses, Howard, Mourning, Reed (Mikan I have too much skepticism about given era, though he probably makes my top 20 center peaks; Gilmore might be in the mix toward the back, too???).

So I would say definitely top 15, maybe top 10.

It depends on how you look at Duncan and Davis, because I would take both over him.

Peak Duncan, sure, if he's counting as a C not a PF. Bubble Davis, yeah, probably until Joel has a big playoff run. Reed is a strong candidate but I thought they gave him a lot of the credit that should have gone to Frazier that year, a 1A/!B situation.

I think I'd take this year Davis over any Embiid season as well.

[LA Bird]

We had the most recent peaks project less than an year ago:

3. 1999-00 Shaquille O'Neal
4. 1976-77 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5. 1966-67 Wilt Chamberlain
7. 1993-94 Hakeem Olajuwon
8. 1963-64 Bill Russell
16. 2021-22 Nikola Jokic
17. 1976-77 Bill Walton
20. 1993-94 David Robinson
25. 1982-83 Moses Malone
30. 1949-50 George Mikan
33. 1989-90 Patrick Ewing
35. 2010-11 Dwight Howard
36. 2021-22 Joel Embiid
41. 1974-75 Artis Gilmore
42. 1973-74 Bob Lanier
45. 1999-00 Alonzo Mourning
46. 1969-70 Willis Reed
48. 1966-67 Nate Thurmond

Embiid was 13th all time among centers.

[SpreeS]

We had the most recent peaks project less than an year ago:

3. 1999-00 Shaquille O'Neal
4. 1976-77 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5. 1966-67 Wilt Chamberlain
7. 1993-94 Hakeem Olajuwon
8. 1963-64 Bill Russell
16. 2021-22 Nikola Jokic
17. 1976-77 Bill Walton
20. 1993-94 David Robinson
25. 1982-83 Moses Malone
30. 1949-50 George Mikan
33. 1989-90 Patrick Ewing
35. 2010-11 Dwight Howard
36. 2021-22 Joel Embiid
41. 1974-75 Artis Gilmore
42. 1973-74 Bob Lanier
45. 1999-00 Alonzo Mourning
46. 1969-70 Willis Reed
48. 1966-67 Nate Thurmond

Embiid was 13th all time among centers.

Something wrong here with Reed

TOP100 2020 - Reed 45th
TOP100 peaks 2022 - Reed 46th

[Cavsfansince84]

Something wrong here with Reed

TOP100 2020 - Reed 45th

TOP100 peaks 2022 - Reed 46th

Ya, I think he got greatly underrated in that peaks project. I'd also have Embiid at about 13/14 among centers. I think people just see numbers and think he has to automatically be above a bunch of guys even though he shows over and over that his intangibles and playoff clutchness or w/e you want to call it are just not good at all.

[GSP]

Russell
Wilt
Kareem
Walton
Moses
Ewing
Hakeem
Robinson
Arvydas -Ussr
Zo
Shaq
Timmy
Dwight

w/o question better...........Embiid prolly next over Gilmore, Lanier, Reed, Thurmond, Deke, Mcadoo, Yao.........altho id be more comfortable in playoffs w/ a couple of em over Embiid

[70sFan]

We had the most recent peaks project less than an year ago:

3. 1999-00 Shaquille O'Neal
4. 1976-77 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5. 1966-67 Wilt Chamberlain
7. 1993-94 Hakeem Olajuwon
8. 1963-64 Bill Russell
16. 2021-22 Nikola Jokic
17. 1976-77 Bill Walton
20. 1993-94 David Robinson
25. 1982-83 Moses Malone
30. 1949-50 George Mikan
33. 1989-90 Patrick Ewing
35. 2010-11 Dwight Howard
36. 2021-22 Joel Embiid
41. 1974-75 Artis Gilmore
42. 1973-74 Bob Lanier
45. 1999-00 Alonzo Mourning
46. 1969-70 Willis Reed
48. 1966-67 Nate Thurmond

Embiid was 13th all time among centers.

Yeah, but with another season from Embiid some might change their mind - that's why I'm asking. If you include Duncan on the list, he'd be 14th. Interestingly, I see a better case for him being outside top 15 than inside top 10.