PHILADELPHIA — When Joel Embiid took the floor for the Philadelphia 76ers to open the 2016-17 season, there was much anticipation for the big fella’s debut. The No. 3 pick in the 2014 NBA draft had missed the first two full seasons of his career due to injury, and everybody wanted to see him on the floor.
Embiid delivered on the hype. He scored 20 points and had seven rebounds in a close loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It wasn’t the result the Sixers wanted, but it was a night where it felt like the franchise had won.
Fast forward to the present day and Embiid is one of the top five players in the league after winning the MVP award in the 2022-23 season. He has led the league in scoring two seasons in a row and is continuously adding to his game.
“When he played his first game, I think it was my second year, you saw glimpses of greatness,” said former Sixers and current Indiana Pacers guard TJ McConnell. “He wasn’t really able to stay healthy that whole year, but everyone in the arena and the organization saw greatness. He just took it to another level.”
Embiid only played 31 games in his rookie season, but it was obvious he was going to be the one to lead the Sixers back into relevance and contention in the Eastern Conference. He continued to work on his body and continued to make sure he was in a good spot to lead Philadelphia to succeed.
McConnell got a front-row seat of it all before leaving for the Pacers in free agency in 2019.
“He really got serious about his body,” McConnell added. “About how he was in the gym. He has always been a great worker, but taking it to another level, and I mean, you guys see it. MVP-type, he could’ve been MVP two years ago as well. It’s amazing to see the jumps he’s made, too because from Day 1, you saw how great he can be.”
Embiid has a new star running mate, Tyrese Maxey, who has taken some immediate steps forward within the offense. McConnell has been impressed with Maxey taking the keys to the offense from James Harden and thriving.
“This league is really just about opportunity and timing,” McConnell explained. “I think the timing of James leaving and him getting the ball and the keys to the car with Joel and just being that starting point guard has really opened up stuff for him to unlock his full potential and he’s proving how valuable of a player he is.”
As long as Maxey can continue to take steps forward, the Sixers will be in a good spot in the East. Embiid and Maxey have meshed rather quickly and been able to grow their partnership.
“Everybody knew how great of a player he was, but at the end of the day, James was still here,” McConnell finished. “There was Joel, I mean Joel’s still here, but they have more of a two-man game where that was James and Joel last year.”
[lawrence-related id=86403,86400,86394]