Over the last few years, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has gone from a great player to a dominant one.
He led the NBA in scoring in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons while winning the regular season MVP during the 2022-23 campaign, and this past season, he looked to be on his way to winning both honors again before suffering a meniscus injury in late January.
He’s the starter center right now for Team USA as it prepares to make a charge at an Olympic gold medal, but he hasn’t really played his best basketball in its five exhibition games.
But the Cameroon native said he would average 50 points a game when asked how he would he do if opposing teams weren’t allowed to double-team him, per Legion Hoops.
Joel Embiid says he’d average 50 PPG in the NBA with no double teams, per @TheCheckBall
Agree? 👀 pic.twitter.com/cgTzCUob1u
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 23, 2024
During the 2023-24 season, Embiid averaged 34.7 points in 39 games after he put up 33.1 points a game the previous year.
Over time, he has also increased his overall shooting percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point accuracy.
However, critics still accuse him of not using his seven-foot, 280-pound frame to his advantage by getting deep post-up positions on a consistent basis.
He still has the tendency to settle for mid-range and outside shots, and while he can hit such attempts, that type of play isn’t exactly his strength.
Embiid will be joined this fall by nine-time All-Star forward Paul George, as well as forward Caleb Martin, guard Eric Gordon, backup center Andre Drummond and guard Reggie Jackson.
If the 76ers stay healthy, they should have an excellent chance of challenging the NBA champion Boston Celtics come playoff time.
