Joel Embiid Shot More Free Throws Than Nikola Jokic While Playing Just 39 Games

Joel Embiid had more free throw attempts in the 2023-24 season than Nikola Jokic despite playing 40 fewer games.

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Joel Embiid only managed to play in 39 games in this 2023-24 season for the Philadelphia 76ers as he missed a big chunk of the campaign due to a meniscus injury. Despite spending a lot of time on the sidelines, the 30-year-old still ended up shooting more free throws than his great rival Nikola Jokic, who played 79 games

Joel Embiid: 39 Games, 452 FTA

Nikola Jokic: 79 Games, 438 FTA

It is quite stunning how Jokic couldn’t surpass Embiid even after playing more than twice as many games as him. I do find it odd how little respect the Denver Nuggets superstar gets from the officials despite winning two MVPs and a title.

Jokic is an excellent outside shooter, but he does a lot of damage inside, too, on the post. The 29-year-old was tied for seventh in the league this season for field goal attempts per game less than five feet from the basket but still averaged just 5.5 free throw attempts per game. Jokic plays through contact a lot more than you might think but just doesn’t get the calls.

Embiid, meanwhile, hasn’t had that problem. You could certainly argue that he hunts for fouls a lot, but his style of play also leads to him getting to the line a lot more. He is always in attack mode and knows how to sell contact, too.

Jokic wasn’t the only superstar that Embiid ended up shooting more free throws than this season. He had more attempts than even Kevin Durant (423) and LeBron James (404), who played 75 and 71 games, respectively. Embiid finished the season 14th in total free throw attempts, and here is what the top five looked like.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 782 FTA

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 649 FTA

3. DeMar DeRozan -612 FTA

4. Luka Doncic – 608 FTA

5. Paolo Banchero – 559 FTA

I think Paolo Banchero being up at fifth is certainly the biggest surprise here. While Embiid finished well behind this group, he did end up leading the league with 11.6 FTA per game. It was the third time he had done so in the last four seasons, with Giannis Antetokoumpo having led the league in 2022-23 with 12.3 FTA per game.


Joel Embiid ‘Ready To Go’ For Play-In Game Against The Heat

Embiid sat out of the final regular season game against the Brooklyn Nets after tweaking his knee in the penultimate game against the Orlando Magic. 76ers head coach Nick Nurse revealed they were just being cautious and that the star big man would be ready to go for the NBA Play-In Tournament clash with the Miami Heat.

If Embiid, who averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game this season, can lead the 76ers past the Heat, he will get a step closer to gaining some redemption. To say his last couple of postseasons were disappointing might be an understatement.

Embiid struggled in the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 as the 76ers were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals. Injuries certainly played a part in him not playing up to standard, and you hope he can stay healthy this time around. If he does, I can see the 76ers making a deep playoff run, provided they don’t end up in the same half of the bracket as the Boston Celtics.

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Gautam Varier is a staff writer and columnist for Fadeaway World from Mumbai, India. He graduated from Symbiosis International University with a Master of Business specializing in Sports Management in 2020. This educational achievement enables Gautam to apply sophisticated analytical techniques to his incisive coverage of basketball, blending business acumen with sports knowledge.Before joining Fadeaway World in 2022, Gautam honed his journalistic skills at Sportskeeda and SportsKPI, where he covered a range of sports topics with an emphasis on basketball. His passion for the sport was ignited after witnessing the high-octane offense of the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns. Among the Suns, Shawn Marion stood out to Gautam as an all-time underrated NBA player. Marion’s versatility as a defender and his rebounding prowess, despite being just 6’7”, impressed Gautam immensely. He admired Marion’s finishing ability at the rim and his shooting, despite an unconventional jump shot, believing that Marion’s skill set would have been even more appreciated in today’s NBA.This transformative experience not only deepened his love for basketball but also shaped his approach to sports writing, enabling him to connect with readers through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis.
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