Dwight Howard is one of the greatest defenders in NBA history and during an appearance on the Thanalysis Show, he was asked how he’d guard some of the best players in the league today. Joel Embiid was one of the players whom host Thanasis Antetokounmpo brought up and Howard threw some shade at his former teammate when explaining what makes him difficult to guard.
“He is probably I think the toughest to guard because he knows how to flop,” Howard said. “He knows how to use his size and his strength when he has to. He can shoot real well.
“If I was checking him, I would have to beat him up and down the court, not let him get easy points, don’t go for no pump fakes,” Howard continued. “Usually when he gets it in his left hand, he does it with his right but he likes to left hesi to the pull-up. So, I would be right up on that.
“So, as soon as have it like this, I’m crowding his space because I know he’s either going to do like this and try to go around me,” Howard added. “So, I’m eating that space up. Soon as I see the ball come up, soon as he go like this, I’m getting right up under him so the next time he puts it down he gonna have to turn his back or think about it. So Embiid is one of those unicorns.”
If flopping is an art form, Embiid has mastered it. He has led the league in free throw attempts per game in three of the last four seasons and there’s no denying that it is a big reason why he’s been so effective on the court. That said, there is more to the 2023 MVP’s game than just free throws.
Embiid is the complete package on offense. The seven-time All-Star has won two scoring titles thanks to his ability to score from everywhere on the court and has improved greatly as a playmaker over the years too.
Despite not being fully healthy this season, Embiid is still averaging 24.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game for the Philadelphia 76ers. There has actually been a big drop in the 30-year-old’s free throw attempts, as he is only putting up 8.5 per game. Over the last four games, though, that number is at 11.8, so expect Embiid to hit double digits by the end of the campaign.
Embiid will be in action next on Monday when the 76ers take on the Brooklyn Nets at Wells Fargo Center at 7 PM ET.
Dwight Howard On How He’d Guard Nikola Jokic
Speaking of dominant big men, Howard was also asked how he’d guard Embiid’s great rival Nikola Jokic. They’re both very different and Howard explained what’s the key to slowing down the Serbian.
“With somebody like him, you got to apply pressure the whole game,” Howard said. “You can’t allow him to be the one that’s coming at you. You got to be up on him the whole game and you got to force him to take tough shots.
“He doesn’t jump that high, which means he’s using his body, his weight to kind of be his leverage,” Howard continued. “So I feel with him, you got to outmatch his energy… To stop Jokic I would pressure him, just try to mentally get in his head and then on offense, I’m going right at him.”
Howard claimed previously that he could still guard Jokic, but that’s being too optimistic. No one in the league has had an answer for the three-time MVP and he would dominate against Howard if they ever crossed paths on the court again.
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