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Fansided

A Year In Review: Joel “The Process” Embiid

By Miles Zielinski

Dec 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the 2016-17 season officially coming to a close, we can look forward to what the Sixers have to offer next season.

Joel Embiid suited up for the Sixers for the first time last October. He was set to bring a winning culture to Philadelphia basketball after two years of rehabbing a navicular injury which he was drafted with.

Embiid’s rookie season ended after just playing 31 games when he suffered a meniscus tear. After leaving a huge impact on the city and team, much was left to the imagination.

Joel was limited in minutes for his 31 game tenure, mainly to preserve his surgically repaired foot. Embiid averaged just 25.4 minutes per game while boasting rookie stats that were virtually unheard of. He averaged 20.2 PPG, 7.8 RBG, 2.1 APG, and 2.4 BPG. These numbers landed him in the running for the Rookie of the Year, despite playing less than 40% of the games this season. Embiid was named Rookie of the Month three times: October/November, December, and January.

This year proved to us that Joel’s social media presence may be the second best thing about him. Many people considered Embiid a bust since missing his first two eligible seasons of play, donning him as the second coming of Greg Oden – a high profile draft pick who was plagued with injuries.

During his rookie season, Joel revolutionized basketball in Philadelphia. Opening night at The Center was the most electric atmosphere in nearly 5 years for the Sixers. Fans serenaded the Cameroonian with chants of “MVP” and “Trust The Process” which has become the team’s battle cry since former General Manager Sam Hinkie coined the phrase years ago. Joel, nicknamed “The Process”, almost gained enough fan support via twitter to earn himself a starting position on the NBA All-Star Game in 2016.

With a great year for The Process in the books, what can we realistically look forward to in the 2017-18 season?

Joel will definitely still be on minute restrictions. JoJo was capped at 28 minutes this year, despite crossing that threshold on several occasions. We can expect the front office to limit him to a similar restriction. Having said that, we can expect his productivity to increase.

Coupled with the likes of Ben Simmons and whoever the Sixers draft/sign in the off season, Joel will be able to flourish with a spread floor and isolation opportunities.

The Sixers have found their identity in Joel Embiid. Adding pieces around the big man will prove to be an easy task. Down the road, Embiid will be an all-star caliber player and may be one of the best centers in the league. Expecting the Sixers to finish .500 this year and be a 7 or 8 seed at the conclusion of the season is not an insane idea.

Next: Fox's meteoric rise playing well for Philadelphia

Personally, I can not wait for JoJo to dance his way down Broad Street the same way he danced with the Sixers cheerleaders and on stage with Philadelphia Native Meek Mill during last season.