Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is a top-five pure scorer of all-time, according to Bleacher Report.
Joel Embiid's talent is undeniable.
The Philadelphia 76ers superstar is a 7-foot, 280-pound center capable of scoring efficiently on all three levels while simultaneously dominating on the defensive end. Unfortunately, injuries have greatly derailed his career.
Still, his ability to score the ball has rarely been affected by his time sidelined.
This is why Bleacher Report named Embiid as the No. 4 best pure scorer in NBA history, even ahead of Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James.
"Joel Embiid has averaged over 30 points in three different seasons. He has two scoring titles. Over the last five seasons, his minutes per game (33.3) have barely outpaced his points (30.9)," B/R's Andy Bailey wrote. "And his dominance in this category is about a lot more than trips to the charity stripe."
It's a debate of when the seven-time All-Star's best scoring season was.
Some would say it was the 2022-2023 campaign, where he averaged 33.1 points on 54.8% shooting and 33.0% shooting from three-point range in 66 appearances. Others would argue it was the 2023-2024 season, as he recorded 34.7 points per game on 52.9% shooting and 38.8% shooting from the arc, but his season was cut short, playing in only 39 games.
"Embiid's precision as a mid-range jump shooter defies traditional notions of what centers can do. His simple jab step leading into that jumper is as difficult to handle as about any other move in the league. His footwork in the post is impeccable. Even with the injuries that have nagged him throughout his career, Embiid may be as close to unguardable as any player in the NBA when he's healthy," Bailey concluded.
While Embiid is once again dealing with injuries this season, he's scoring the ball at a high rate yet again. He is averaging 26.6 points on 49.5% shooting in 33 games played.
Being ranked ahead of James on any list is quite impressive, but being ahead of him on a prestigious scoring list proves how much credit Embiid deserves.
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