Joel Embiid has been a staple for the 76ers since draft night. His career, although riddled with injuries, shouldn't prevent him from having a jersey retirement.
When a team decides to retire a jersey, it’s a monumental moment and a testament to what that player did for the franchise. Their impact is usually something that will be remembered for a lifetime.
The Philadelphia 76ers appeared on The Athletic’s list of players who need to have their jersey retired, and they named Joel Embiid.
Embiid absolutely deserves to have his number retired when it’s all said and done. Even if he doesn’t win a championship, he’s kept this franchise relevant since Allen Iverson wore the jersey. Not only that, but Embiid is in the record books, ranking in the top ten in points, blocks, and rebounds.
He also holds the record for most points scored in a game with 70. Embiid has never played for another team, and despite his injury history, his numbers command respect. To be specific, he ranks fourth in points (13,544), eighth in rebounds (5,280), fourth in blocks (784), and fourth in three-pointers made (585). Imagine that a center is in the top five in three-pointers; the NBA has certainly changed.
The numbers aren’t the only thing that gives the green light for that number retirement; he has the accolades to back it up as well. Embiid’s a seven-time all-star, two-time scoring champion, and an MVP. In that MVP season he scored a career-high 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
An NBA championship would all but solidify the idea of seeing that jersey hung up in the rafters. This may be the year that he finally achieves that nearly impossible feat. Even still the greatness of Embiid cannot be denied. We can’t ignore some of his playoff performances either.
In the playoffs, Embiid averages 24.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He scored a playoff-high 50 points in 2024 against the New York Knicks. He’s averaged over 30 points twice, once in 2019 and again in 2023.
No critic could deny Embiid his place in Philadelphia 76ers history as one of the greatest centers to play the game. This season may be the thing that validates this claim.
If Embiid can stay healthy after slimming down, the NBA could see a new and improved Joel Embiid. He’s coming into this season the healthiest he’s ever been. He didn’t have to spend the offseason rehabbing and could focus on being in shape for this season.
No matter what happens from this point on, Embiid is not only a player who deserves to have his jersey hung, but his numbers would qualify him for the Hall of Fame.
