Fans come together to vote for the top 4 players in 76ers' history over the last 50 years. Joel Embiid has made the list amid all his criticism.
Everyone has their own Mount Rushmore, and everyone is entitled to their own interpretation. For the Philadelphia 76ers' Mt. Rushmore, the fans picked a few names that were automatics. Charles Barkley, Julius Dr. J’ Erving, and Allen Iverson were the names that many expected to be on the list. The biggest surprise on the list was Joel Embiid.
Embiid has warmed the hearts of many in the city of Philadelphia, and yet, there are many who have criticized Embiid for his lack of availability. Now, it’s very understandable to sit here and follow the old adage that the best ability is availability. But with Embiid, this standard statement doesn’t fit the mold. For starters, when Embiid was out, it was difficult for the 76ers to guarantee a win.
With Embiid in the lineup, the team is 319-271. That’s a .651 win percentage, whereas without him, the 76ers are 125-186, a .401 win percentage. That is a major drop-off in wins, which kind of nullifies whether or not Embiid is an important part of the team's success. While we’re on the subject of his win status, let’s take a look at where the big man ranks in terms of franchise records.
Embiid ranks in the top 10 in career points. He’s 8th in total points with 4,458 and counting. He now ranks fourth in blocks with 760 career blocks. His career average of 27.8 is tied for first with Wilt Chamberlain. His numbers have put him in the category of one of the greatest Philadelphia 76ers of all-time. One can’t deny him of that, no matter who you pit him up against.
Let’s face it, Embiid has been the face of the franchise for nearly a decade, and no one else has had his level of popularity since Iverson in the early 2000s. What makes their comparison even better is both players have won an MVP award with the franchise. Embiid has been the scoring champion twice, and you could make the argument that he should have two MVPs if it weren’t for Nikola Jokic.
The only thing many could argue is he has yet to win the big one. Then again, you could say the same about nearly the rest of that list. Iverson will be the only one who truly gets a pass because he carried that 2000 76ers team on his back when they faced the Lakers powerhouse of Kobe and Shaq.
If Embiid can win a title this year, it will cement him as the top 76er in franchise history.
