Joel Embiid Surpasses Michael Jordan In Unique Career Scoring Statistic

Joel Embiid has led the Philadelphia 76ers to the best record in the Eastern Conference. While this was a peak many expected them to reach a season or so ago, they finally have figured it out. New coach Doc Rivers has breathed new life into the team, and new GM Daryl Morey has made some great moves to fill the weak-spots on this roster.

Embiid is playing at an MVP-level and should be the leader in the race right now. He is averaging 30.5 points and 11 rebounds on the season. However, Embiid has always been this elite a player. He just struggled to make it on the court, which his scoring stats per 36 minutes prove.

Not every player plays 36 minutes a game, so evaluating stats by this method can sometimes be a little dicey. However, it speaks to a player’s ability to put up big and meaningful numbers within a short amount of time. While Embiid still has many years ahead of him in the NBA, this is a great spot to be in while he is entering his prime.

Joel Embiid: The best big-man in the modern NBA?

Joel Embiid is either the best or the second-best center in the NBA. The only player that comes close to him is Nikola Jokic, but both men impact the game in different ways. As for this season, Embiid’s team is atop their conference while Jokic’s Denver Nuggets are currently eighth in the West.

His versatility across the board is quite admirable. He has the post-game of an old-school NBA center, along with a soft shooting touch, While he isn’t a sniper from three, he can more than make his fair share of jump shots. He has an average handle for a big-man and has shown the ability to go coast-to-coast.

A statistic like this won’t hold up for his entire career, but it could depending on how he progresses. But to be in company like this is quite impressive for Embiid, who was once considered way too injury-prone to fulfill his potential.