Joel Embiid is a superstar, unquestionably. Former NBA superstars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce tackled the subject of current NBA superstars during their recent podcast episode. Of all the players listed on their list, Embiid was surprisingly left off. Of course, Embiid is a superstar, forgotten as he was.
Joel Embiid Superstar Status: Ex-Celtics Champions Nix Center
Even if Forgotten, Joel Embiid is a Superstar
Is Embiid a superstar? By all means, naturally. It’s unclear if the two former Boston Celtics champions meant to veto Embiid from their list of current NBA superstars or unconsciously left him out. Garnett and Pierce should revisit the conversation though and give Embiid his flowers.
In a recent episode of Ticket & The Truth / KG Certified, Garnett and Pierce engaged in an NBA superstar back-and-forth about who’s in and who’s out. Surprisingly, 76ers “superstar” Joel Embiid was nowhere to be found among the handful of names they named. Garnett seemingly failed to comprehend what a “superstar” is, while Pierce, on the other hand, was locked in.
“You got Joker, Greek Freak … Tatum’s in the Superstar category. So that’s three. Then you got Curry, LeBron, Durant – that’s six. For sure, the OG’s is the superstars,” Pierce says.
Thanks to Pierce’s awareness, he saved Garnett from drowning here. As more names were rattled off, KG began to catch on, and just like that, ten current superstars were born in the NBA. By the time they ended on Victor Wembanyama, the NBA had upwards of 16 superstars in the league today—what a development. You gotta give it to Garnett and Pierce; they entertain. However, the interesting element of this conversation is whom the former Celtics didn’t mention: Joel Embiid.
Embiid is in Superstar Echelon
Considering KG’s temporary aloofness and Pierce taking control of the situation, there’s no blame to cast for leaving a superstar like Embiid off their list. A simple mistake, I’m sure. However, forgotten in this manner, Embiid cannot be.
Put aside the injuries Embiid endured from the get-go of his NBA career, and consider everything else. Embiid might be the best center in the league. Some would argue Nikola Jokic. Embiid in the paint is as unstoppable as it gets, and very few contemporaries in the league can match him. Jokic, of course, is one said contemporary. Embiid is challenging to guard because he’s a triple threat. He’s outstanding in the paint (scoring and rebounding), mid-range, and a good three-point shooter. He is holding steady at 50.4% from the field for his career. As for his three-point abilities, last season was his best connecting on 38.8% from beyond the arc, and for his career, 34.1%—not too bad for a seven-foot, 280-pound center, all things considered.
Embiid is as dominant as it gets. An injury-ravaged career has still accumulated the following: seven-time All-Star, two-time Scoring Champ, five-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive, an All-Rookie Team member, and the 2022-23 MVP. If those honors don’t culminate in NBA superstar status, something is afoot.
Injuries Shouldn’t Detract
You have to feel for a superstar like Embiid after numerous injuries have hindered him personally, physically, and the Philadelphia 76ers as a franchise. Many of their past playoff hopes were dashed because Embiid was lingering on an existing injury or was flat-out missing games. Embiid is often knocked for failing to take the 76ers on a deep playoff run. It’s not entirely on his shoulders though.
The 76ers are in a primed position to make one of those allusive deep playoff runs this season. The trio of Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey is a formidable mix to compete and contend in the East and possibly further into the NBA Finals.
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