The city of Philadelphia can rejoice. Their front office has been productive throughout this offseason. The signing of Paul George aggravated their title hopes. And now Joel Embiid has stretched his loyalty, signing a three-year max extension worth $192.9 million. However, when the ESPN desk decided to discuss the decision to prolong The Process’ stay, the crowd had a jarring reaction. An echo of “overrated” surrounded the stage. Stephen A. Smith, a Knicks fanatic had to educate them on just who Embiid is.

Smith firsthand witnessed the domineering center push a healthy Knicks to their limits. At that point, Joel Embiid was playing “on one leg” given a continued postseason injury trail. That’s the only metric that has posed as a barrier in the decorated career of the seven-time All-Star. Put that aside and the ESPN face sees Embiid as “one of the most gifted”. 

“Joel Embiid’s issue is one thing and one thing only, injuries, his health. When this brother is on the floor, he is one of the most dominant, one of the most gifted big men the game of basketball has ever seen. And he has a personality that matches his game. He deserves every penny. Nobody can look at his skill. What this brother do on the basketball court and say ‘Why would the Sixers pay him that?’. You damn right to pay him that money,” Stephen A. Smith said enamoringly on First Take.

Barring ailments, Embiid was on pace to barrage through the record books last season. The seven-footer averaged 35 points per game, the most in the NBA. If not for the new 65-game rule, it would have been his third season leading the league in scoring. Furthermore, even though completely banged up, his persistence can’t be denied.

Even when he might not be fully healthy, Embiid finds a way to play. During the latest playoff run, he suffered from Ball’s palsy and a knee injury. Still, he suited up for the Sixers in an attempt to make a postseason push. With Embiid healthy, the Sixers had a winning percentage better than the Boston Celtics.

With all that said, the Sixers extending Embiid was a question of when rather than if. And while injuries have bothered him throughout his career, there is a chance he might not suffer the same fate this season.

Paul George and Maxey could help Joel Embiid relax

In his eight years with Philadelphia, it can be said that The Process has never had a scoring unit around him. The onus of putting the ball in the basket has been bestowed upon him. The immense volume of work in doing so is a major reason for his inability to sustain his health. But his last season’s injury gave rise to a brave youngster named Tyrese Maxey.

Without Embiid, the fast-paced guard took his game up multifolds. In a career-best scoring season, Maxey proved he can be a pivot that can play off the roaring center. And now there is also Paul George, a bona fide two-way phenom. With his slashing role, George will pressure the rim regularly. It will allow Joel Embiid to play at his range.

Having mastered the art of scoring, the 76ers ace can hurt opponents with his mid-range arsenal. As emphatic a scorer as he is around the rim, Joel Embiid is skilled in stretching the floor and weaving his own offense. These additions will allow him to exert less pressure, alleviating the risk of injuries.

Still, it can’t be said for certain. Injuries have come in the most ludicrous forms for Embiid. But the 76ers front office has done an outstanding job to ensure he won’t have to be in high gear every time. With guys he can defer to, we might finally see Joel Embiid play out a season fully healthy.

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