Fresh off his MVP season, 76ers star Joel Embiid is setting a new standard for his historic run. This year, as an early MVP candidate again, Embiid is forcing some hard questions about where he ranks among the all-time greats. According to his newest teammate, Patrick Beverley, nobody has ever matched the level he’s playing at right now…
“If he finishes this season the way he’s playing now, it would be the greatest season of a single player that’s ever played basketball,” said Beverley on his podcast. “That doesn’t make you the best big man in the league that makes you the best mutherf*cker in the world. Jo is in a world of his own and I don’t think it’s even close. I think it’s a toggle between him and the man [Michael Jordan]!”
“If he finishes this season the way he’s playing now, it would be the greatest season of a single player that’s ever played basketball” –@PatBev21 on Joel Embiid @patbevpod pic.twitter.com/UrNKYLL2eD
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 3, 2024
Embiid hasn’t lost a step from his MVP campaign last season. He looks better than ever leading the 76ers to the top of the East standings, without Ben Simmons or James Harden to get in his way and muck it all up. Whether or not this is the greatest season ever, however, is still up for debate considering what we’ve seen across NBA history.
Best Season Ever?
Joel Embiid’s performance this season holds up well compared to other NBA legends, but he’ll need to sustain this for the rest of the season for it to count. As it stands, the “greatest season ever” probably belongs to Michael Jordan, who set history in 1996 by leading the Chicago Bulls to 73 wins, and their fourth NBA championship. He was on a tear for that whole stretch, averaging 30.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while securing an All-Defensive first-team honors.
If there’s any season that comes close to that, it’s probably Shaquille O’Neal’s run in 1999-2000. This was Shaq at his peak and his overwhelming power was enough to carry the Lakers to their first of three championships. That season, O’Neal averaged 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.
With averages of 34.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game, Joel Embiid is certainly in the middle of a historic season right now. If he goes on to win the MVP, and first first championship, it will be all he needs to cement his place in the pantheon of NBA centers like Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Lingering Questions For Embiid
There is no denying that Joel is having a truly special performance and he deserves his place in the MVP discussions. But after last year’s collapse in the Eastern Conference playoffs, there are some major questions about the big fella and his capacity to lead under pressure. Leading up to his team’s brutal elimination against the Celtics, Embiid’s stats gradually declined and the 76ers never recovered.
No matter how well he does now, the doubts will always linger with Joel until he proves he can deliver when it matters most. Hopefully, with no more excuses not to get it done, this is the year he finally gets Philly over the hump.
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