Will Joel Embiid return to being a top 10 player again?

Cubbies2120 · Post #1 » by **Cubbies2120** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:05 pm

After this season's disappointing 11PPG dropoff from the previous season, shooting 44%, and being shut down for the season...there's hope that the surgery will allow him to return to being a top 10 player in the league.

Do you see Embiid returning to being a top 10 player next year?

God Squad · Post #2 » by **God Squad** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:06 pm

I think he's on borrowed time.

Post #3 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:07 pm

He sure isn't going to get healthier as he gets older, advancing further into his 30s, flopping around like a fish out of water.

Ssj16 · Post #4 » by **Ssj16** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:11 pm

It's possible but I voted no because of his lack of availability. In hindsight, it was smart of him "to help" win an Olympic gold medal for his "home" country because this will probably be his greatest achievement to date as a basketball player.

ChettheJet · Post #5 » by **ChettheJet** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:12 pm

I think he can resume being a guy who gets 50 points and 20 rebounds in multiple games during the season. He's also likely to get injured, not play 60 games in a season and depending on the timing of what injury he ends up with, may not see the playoffs. It would be great if he could break the pattern of his entire career but his track record is what it is.

Cubbies2120 · Post #6 » by **Cubbies2120** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:28 pm

tsherkin wrote:He sure isn't going to get healthier as he gets older, advancing further into his 30s, flopping around like a fish out of water.

The doctors told him to play that way though...

Jailblazers7 · Post #7 » by **Jailblazers7** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:30 pm

I think his knee is cooked unfortunately.

taikibansei · Post #8 » by **taikibansei** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:32 pm

Cubbies2120 wrote:
tsherkin wrote:He sure isn't going to get healthier as he gets older, advancing further into his 30s, flopping around like a fish out of water.

The doctors told him to play that way though...

A doctor told him to flop "around like a fish out of water"? Hmm...maybe a second opinion is a good idea?

Post #9 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:34 pm

Cubbies2120 wrote:
tsherkin wrote:He sure isn't going to get healthier as he gets older, advancing further into his 30s, flopping around like a fish out of water.

The doctors told him to play that way though...

And? He's still going to be unhealthy going forward.

ImSlower · Post #10 » by **ImSlower** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:35 pm

Yeah that seems fishy to me.

76thBearCub · Post #11 » by **76thBearCub** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:44 pm

Doesn't really matter. You'll be here wasting time talking crap about someone you've never met regardless. Yikes.

pipfan · Post #12 » by **pipfan** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:48 pm

I think he'll make one more run at it, this season or the next, then be done as an All Star

Whopper_Sr · Post #13 » by **Whopper_Sr** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:49 pm

He will be the next Kawhi of weekly top 10 players polls where he's HM or top 5 when healthy.

Billl · Post #14 » by **Billl** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:54 pm

Top 10? Nah. He'll never play enough games to be that valuable. He might make another all-star game if he can put together a half season of high productivity.

Post #15 » by **Clav** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:56 pm

He can still be productive in his minutes, the real fulcrum of his career now is... can he remain healthy and that answer seems to me to be trending to no. I am not a fan of his style of play but I do hope that he can return to action. No matter what I don't want to see players be ruled out for season, seasons, or their career.

HotelVitale · Post #16 » by **HotelVitale** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 6:59 pm

Lovely, a thread for realgm to express collective schadenfreude about injuries cutting done a player in his prime.

NY2k1 · Post #17 » by **NY2k1** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 7:00 pm

With the injuries he has, especially the most recent one, he's essentially done as a full-time and MVP-level player. At BEST, he might be able to carve out a part-time role playing around 15-20 mins a game max.

Cubbies2120 · Post #18 » by **Cubbies2120** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 7:02 pm

HotelVitale wrote:Lovely, a thread for realgm to express collective schadenfreude about injuries cutting done a player in his prime.

I specifically said the surgery will give hope that he'll return to top 10...

I'm hopeful, it's more fun when there's superstars playing...with Tatum out, and Giannis potentially leaving the East (favorite non-bucks teams to get him are all out West), it leaves a void of superstars in the East...

NY2k1 · Post #19 » by **NY2k1** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 7:07 pm

Cubbies2120 wrote:
HotelVitale wrote:Lovely, a thread for realgm to express collective schadenfreude about injuries cutting done a player in his prime.

I specifically said the surgery will give hope that he'll return to top 10...

I'm hopeful, it's more fun when there's superstars playing...with Tatum out, and Giannis potentially leaving the East (favorite non-bucks teams to get him are all out West), it leaves a void of superstars in the East...

Without saying too much, the surgery will only push him to retire sooner, not bring him back to a top 10 player.

Black Jack · Post #20 » by **Black Jack** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 7:10 pm

I dunno but...

Guys like him should retire, limping for life isn't worth the marginal extra millions. Almost nobody does it but an early retirement Barry Sanders style is the best idea for people with this much injury.

Will Embiid be a top 10 player again?