Joel Embiid is paying attention to everything that was said. While the Philadelphia 76ers aren’t exactly oblivious to the outside noise, those conventional distractions can actually be useful, if only to motivate the team to silence their naysayers and prove them wrong this season.
After the kind of season they had last campaign, the 76ers have become a frequent target for those loose bullets from fans and pundits alike. However, criticism is not synonymous with blatant disrespect, and there is no doubt that the team has taken in far too many strays lately, both as a collective and in regards to players as individual pieces.
Embiid in particular is at the top of that list. It seems like everyone just forgot how dominant he was – and still is – when he lines up on the hardwood with even a semi-functional knee. Mind you, this is the exact same player who was the undisputed favorite to win Most Valuable Player just two years ago.
An epitome of the kind of disrespect shown to him along the way is the fact that before the season he was completely dismissed by those so-called experts in their proverbial run-of-the-mill player rankings. In one particular ranking, he was even completely left out… the “Top 100” list. Ridiculous, right?
Joel Embiid is getting the ultimate disrespect that could motivate him to give the 76ers a boost
In the aftermath of his first return to the hardwood after a long absence, Embiid easily attracted a lot of interested people. During his post-game presser, he took a shot on that player list, which actually came from The Ringer.
“I see all these guys. I’m here to help. According to a lot of your peers, I’m not even a top 100 basketball player in this league. So I guess I just have to fit in and see where I can help the team win.”
Nice blow, Joel.
When healthy, Embiid, even if not at 100 percent playing capacity, is a top-five basketball talent. There’s no doubt about that. So far, no one in the league can slow him down or even handle him in one-on-one situations, making him arguably the best isolation scorer in the NBA at his peak.
In his preseason debut, he still showed that otherworldly scoring ability, albeit with more emphasis on doubling up as an outlet on offense as a playmaker. That’s likely the role the 76ers envision for the superstar’s future, which also aligns well with the team’s much-needed mission to lighten the load on his body.
Hopefully Joel Embiid can show his reinvented, yet equally lethal play this season. After all, the 76ers will go wherever he takes them, and they simply don’t have a chance without him reprising his dominant self, even if it’s in a different, more streamlined way.
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