The Philadelphia 76ers have to go above and beyond to win. But, which star has the most on them to make sure it happens?
Every NBA season there’s pressure to win. No matter how stacked your team is, the only goal is to win and win now. For the Philadelphia 76ers, the only option for them is to win. If not, there’s sure to be some very upset fans and front office executives.
The real question is, who is under the most pressure to win right now? The longest-tenured player, Joel Embiid, is under more pressure than anyone else.
Embiid is a player who has come under heavy fire every year for not delivering in key situations. Yes, he helped the team defeat the Celtics in the playoffs last year, but it’s the injury history that’s cause for concern. No matter how in shape he seems to be at some point, his body begins to shut down.
Knowing this, it puts it at the top of the list when it comes to being under the most pressure. What’s more important is that this year he has apparently slimed down quite a bit. With that in mind, it leaves zero excuses for the former MVP. This could be his year to finally break through and win a championship. This new 76ers roster has given him everything he needs to go to the NBA Finals.
Having LeBron James and Jaylen Brown added to his roster makes the criticism even harsher. When Embiid was the reigning MVP, his championship dreams were thwarted in the Easter Conference Semifinals by the Boston Celtics. Even before that, Embiid carried the 76ers to the Eastern Conference Finals, where he lost in last-minute fashion to a Nick Nurse-led Toronto Raptors team.
It’s been too many encounters where Embiid has the chance and falls flat. The only thing haunting Embiid at this point in his career is not having an NBA championship. It could be the very thing that stifles his chance at getting into the Hall of Fame.
There’s something to be said about a center who early on in his career focused on winning an MVP as opposed to trying to get an NBA title. That particular mindset is another example of how winning a ring was at the back of Embiid’s mind.
This season, Embiid’s health has to be at its best. Not just for him, but for his teammates relying on him to help them throughout the season. If he can’t be available, that pressure he feels will be a never-ending ghost that will haunt him until the end of his career.
