“Hakeem Could Never”: Former NBA Champion Heaps Praise on Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is the front runner to be named the 2021 NBA MVP. However, a lot of the season is still left. Embiid could have his stock dramatically fall or he could continue to prove why he is being regarded so highly. It seems like Embiid is going the other route, putting up routinely big numbers while entertaining the fans.

Joel Embiid has some of the silkiest footwork in the NBA right now. It helps that he is 7 feet tall and an absolute force within the paint. But his varied skill-set lets him stretch his game out to the mid-range and even the three-point line.

Embiid showed his moves against the Cleveland Cavaliers when he hit a deep step-back mid-range. That prompted former NBA Champion Richard Jefferson to bring up Hakeem Olajuwon.

“That move we never saw Hakeem do. The footwork was all there. If Hakeem played today, he’d be Joel Embiid.”

The comparison to Hakeem is one that is all too familiar for Embiid. However, he rarely gets put over Hakeem like how RJ did in that segment. But maybe if he wins the MVP this year, he is that much closer to matching Hakeem’s legacy.

Joel Embiid: Moving past the Hakeem comparisons?

Joel Embiid has a long way to go if he wants to be Hakeem Olajuwon. Hakeem is the only player that got championships in the 90s when Michael Jordan was away playing baseball. He was always that dominant, and he showed it off his entire career. The former number one overall pick is a two-time champion, one-time MVP, and one-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Embiid has had a slow start to his NBA career due to injuries, but seems to be entering his stride. He may match Hakeem on the MVP front, but getting the championships will be the major comparison. If Embiid can overcome the competition in the modern NBA and get two rings to his name, his legacy may be comparable to Olajuwon’s.

READ MORE: Kansas Jayhawks Coach Bill Self Tells Story of Joel Embiid Wanting To Be Red-Shirted After A Practice Session

One thing is for sure- Embiid is the embodiment of Hakeem in the modern NBA. It just goes to show how far ahead Olajuwon was in terms of his game and how it is perfectly suited for the modern NBA.