Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid Has An Unlikely Path To Stardom, But That’s Ok

By George Kondoleon | Sep 20, 2016

Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Joel Embiid‘s difficult road to the NBA will face it’s biggest challenge to date; actually playing.

It’s hard not be enamored with the potential of Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid. On the court he’s been called the next Hakeem Olajuwon, and off the court he has the exuberant personality of Shaquille O’Neal. His physique mixed with his attitude make him a fan favorite without ever stepping into a competitive NBA game.

Joel Embiid will have the benefit of living the NBA life two seasons before starting his actual career. He has already faced adversity with his two injuries and off-court scrutiny of his work ethic. The adversity will continue as he finally starts his Philadelphia 76ers career this upcoming season.

Embiid comes into the season sharing his debut with other highly touted picks Ben Simmons and Dario Saric. He will come into the season on minutes restrictions and limited games, as the team announced he would sit out back-to-back games. If the team fully commits to this statement, Embiid’s maximum games this next season will top out at 67.

More from Philadelphia 76ers

67 games not only to prove that he’s healthy, but that he’s worth the two season wait. Nobody should be expecting Embiid to move mountains in his first season, but nobody is expecting his game to fall into question either. Embiid’s challenge is shaking the history of big man facing early injuries off it’s rails. No big man and few NBA players have been able to find their way to stardom after two major injuries and a strict minutes limit in his first season.

Not to say Embiid can’t do it, but luckily for him and the Philadelphia 76ers, he doesn’t have to. The future of the franchise is no longer dependent on the foot of Joel Embiid. The Philadelphia 76ers were once again able to acquire top draft talent, and this time acquired a star in the making in Ben Simmons. Simmons, much like Embiid, brings unique skills that wouldn’t usually align with a player his size.

Simmons’ mentality and abilities make him the ideal leader of a highly competitive franchise, bumping Embiid to the second option. This is perfect for the recovering big man. The pressure of absolute stardom is no longer there. What Embiid must do in this first season is prove his health and show solid contributions. The rookie season of Karl Anthony-Towns or even Jahlil Okafor won’t have to be used as comparisons.

For how high Embiid’s potential once was, Simmons’ exceeds it. The former Kansas center went from role of savior of the Sixers to becoming the Robin to Simmons. Embiid becoming healthy is a dynamic added boost to the organization, but reaching full stardom will not be as necessary.

Of course the Philadelphia 76ers are hoping for a miracle with Embiid becoming a star. Of course his performance will still have a heavy weight on the organization moving forward. But it’s no longer a necessity for him to become a top tier center. If Embiid even ends up slightly better than average, it will still be enough for the team to become competitive. It may not be the validation fans want from the wait, but it’s a realistic outcome that still benefits the organization.

Next: A Look Back At The 2015 NBA Draft

The path to stardom is unlikely for Embiid at this point of his career. What aides him from the start is being surrounded by young talent that he can grow with. His off-court connection with Ben Simmons points to a potential dominant pairing. A pairing that will be lead by Simmons and followed by Embiid. Embiid won’t be the star of the Philadelphia 76ers, but he won’t have to be.