After Philadelphia 76ers All-Star point guard Ben Simmons was ranked 13th in the NBA at the All-Star break of the season, it is time to take a look at where Joel Embiid is ranked.
Everybody has their own top players list in the NBA, but in this edition, we’re going to focus on The Ringer who made a list of the top players of the 2019-20 season. They had Simmons ranked 13th and coming in right ahead of him is his teammate, Embiid, at 12th overall.
The Ringer wrote on Embiid:
By no means does Embiid have to be perfect to be great. Some players can be frustrating and still dominant, off their game and still somehow in the pocket. There are plays every night that Embiid (and his coaches) would surely want back: questionable shots, careless turnovers, and lethargic efforts. There are simply far, far more that swing wildly in Philly’s favor with Embiid’s involvement. Beneath the exceptional production (starting with point and rebound totals matched only by likely MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo), Embiid dictates the way a game is played. The lineups that opponents put on the floor, the lengths they’ll go to steer around the threat of his shot blocking, the shades and doubles and constant attention—all of it comes back to Embiid, because to give him anything less than your full attention is likely to get you rocked. Underestimate him at your own peril.
Just for reference, Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic is ranked eighth in the league. Embiid is averaging 22.9 points and 11.9 rebounds on the season as he continues to work out the kinks in this new system and the new offense that coach Brett Brown is trying to figure out.
Embiid and the Sixers get back at it on Thursday when they host the Brooklyn Nets. [lawrence-related id=26025,26017,25998]