The one thing that the 76ers’ president of basketball operations asked of Joel Embiid was to trust the process. Not the exact words, of course. But the message was clear. The franchise trusted their 2014 No. 3 pick completely! Even when there were serious concerns about his health, Philly was content to ride it out with their MVP. Even so, the question still remained – when will Embiid lead the team to a championship?

Given the major moves Morey made this off-season, the answer to that question is 2024-25. With Tyrese Maxey coming up big last season, establishing himself as a key player, and the 7-time All-Star showcasing groundbreaking performances, Morey recognized that it was time to pull out the big guns.

And the result was the arrival of another All-Star caliber forward, Paul George. All that’s left now is for the season to start. But before moving forward with that, let’s take a look at some of the key facts of one of the dominant centers in the NBA.

How tall is Joel Embiid?

The straightforward answer to that question is 7’0″. However, for those who appreciate precision, he stands at 6’11.75″. For simplicity, let’s go with seven feet. Needless to say, this towering giant is a formidable presence on the court (and everywhere he goes). Opponents hesitate, even if only for a split second when facing this imposing 7 feet of solid muscle.

Of course, Embiid doesn’t use his height merely to intimidate opponents. There’s a reason why the NBA was once considered the league of the big man. Dominating offensively, and scoring over defenders, Joel commands the area around the basket. As an elite rim protector, his height ensures that shots can be effectively blocked or altered. Additionally, his sheer size makes it challenging for opponents to score in the paint.

What about his weight?

How much does the 7’0 center weigh?

Weighing 280 pounds, Joel Embiid is a nightmare for both smaller and bigger defenders. His impressive strength means that the former group will have a tough time moving past him in the paint. It also allows him to create space for easy buckets on the offense. When matched up against opposing centers, Embiid is pretty much immovable.

So, basically, pushing him off his position isn’t an easy task for them. Moreover, it becomes crucial in rebounding. As mentioned, his weight means that once he places himself in a prime position to grab that rebound, the chances of it falling elsewhere are less, thereby controlling the tempo of the game.

Moving on, what is the 2x scoring champion’s wingspan?

The wingspan of Joel Embiid

The 30-year-old has a wingspan extending to 7’5″. The average wingspan of an NBA player is 6’7″ and the average of a center in the league is 7’3″. So, we can say with confidence that Joel Embiid falls in the elite category when it comes to wingspan. And it certainly helps his game in many ways.

For one, it helps Embiid showcase brilliant shot-blocking and is a defensive threat. Even if the first-time Olympic gold medalist is slightly off his position, his long reach ensures the ball can be swatted away. When it comes to offensive versatility, Embiid can finish along the rim with ease. He can also shoot over defenders, making his mid-range jumpers (shot 41% last season) and post moves lethal.

Another aspect that caught the attention of fans and media amidst the Sixers’ news in 2023-24 was Embiid’s Bell’s Palsy.

Embiid had confirmed Bell’s Palsy during a late April press conference

It’s a well-known fact that injuries have a serious affinity for Joel (he’s yet to play more than 68 games a season). It has been a real headache for the dominant center and has often robbed him of capitalizing on his potential as well as quite a few honors. Even so, when the man is healthy and on the court, it’s a dreaded day for the teams facing Philly.

So, when the 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Teamer confirmed that differences in his facial structure were due to Bell’s Palsy. It is a condition where the muscles on one side of the face become weak or paralyzed, usually due to inflammation or nerve damage. In a late April press conference, he recalled having “bad migraines,” but he didn’t read too much into it.

However, noticeable symptoms started appearing on the left side of his face, eye, and mouth along with blurry vision. He was advised to use eye drops to prevent the drying of his eyes. But his mental fortitude shone through in the way he approached the matter. “It’s been tough, but I’m not a quitter. I’m going to keep fighting through anything. It’s unfortunate, that’s the way I look at it. But it’s not an excuse. I’ve got to keep pushing.”

It has been a struggle for him throughout his journey to and in the NBA. Even when it seemed like everything was against him, No. 21 continued to fight for what he believed he was capable of. While there have been results and blessings along the way, he admitted that he didn’t want to go down in history without a championship ring.

“I’m at the point where there’s no awards, there’s no regular season or no All-NBA or All-Stars is going to change the way my legacy is. Well, there’s a few things that can change it, but the main one is the championship. So when you start thinking about what you want to be remembered as, you want to be remembered as someone that’s won,” he confessed to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

Well, Daryl Morey kept his word of providing a championship-ready roster. And now, it’s up to the franchise stars to ensure they bring that Larry O’Brien home.