If injuries didn't derail his NBA career, an NBA champion believes Joel Embiid would be a lot higher all-time.
Injuries are derailing Joel Embiid's season once again.
The Philadelphia 76ers superstar center has appeared in just 33 games this year, but he is still averaging 26.6 points and 7.5 rebounds on 49.5% shooting. He has not played since Feb. 26 against the Miami Heat due to a right oblique strain.
Missing games has at times overpowered the talent Embiid displays when he is on the floor. Let's not forget just a few years ago the 32-year-old won MVP recording more than 33 points per game.
NBA champion Jeff Teague believes if it weren't for injuries, Embiid would own the title of the greatest NBA center of all-time.
“If Joel Embiid had a healthy NBA career, he’d be the greatest center of all time,” Teague said on the Club 520 Podcast. “Like, it’s not even a joke. It would be between him and [Nikola] Jokic. He would be at least No. 1 or No. 2 greatest center of all time. If he was full-time healthy, bro, it would be a joke.”
Embiid showcased what he was capable of when healthy during the 2022-2023 season, which is when he won MVP. He averaged the previously mentioned 33.1 points to go along with 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists on 54.8% shooting in 66 appearances.
Unfortunately, the seven-time All-Star has never been at full strength by the time the postseason comes around. The 76ers have yet to reach the Eastern Conference Finals since Embiid joined the team in 2015. This season appears no different, as Philadelphia is the No. 9 seed in the East with a record of 37-31.
In terms of talent, few will argue against Embiid. He is a 7-foot, 280-pound center capable of scoring efficiently on all three levels. Defensively, he is also dominant but has slowed down on that end of the floor over the years due to the plethora of injuries.
When it's all said and done for Embiid's NBA career, it's possible it goes down as one of the biggest "what ifs" in league history.
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Anthony Pasciolla is the publisher of 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached via email at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.