Joel Embiid Nabs a Fifth NBA All-Star Appearance (Unpublished)
"The Process" continues to excel in another extrodinary MVP caliber season.
Joel Embiid is back as a NBA All-Star for a consecutive fifth appearance.
He is the only Sixer to achieve this feat, since hoops legend Allen Iverson. Embiid is the fourth player in Philadelphia 76ers history to be named an All-Star starter at least five times. The only 76ers with more starting selections are Julius Erving (11), Dolph Schayes (11) and Iverson (8).
Joel has been a beast this season. Its really an understatement.
Embiid is the league’s third-leading scorer with a career-high 29.0 points per game along with 10.8 rebounds. That means he is 10th in rebounds league-wide, and 6th in the Eastern Conference. The future hall of famer is also averaging a career-high 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.4 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game. He’s the only NBA player with such averages this season.
The Cameroonian legend backed up that physical and skillful prowess against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. He scored 26 points, had 7 rebounds and dished 9 assists in Philadelphia’s 105–87 win over the Lakers. Thursday's game marked his 20th consecutive game in the season, which is the second longest streak of notoriously injury riddled career.
The Process' career averages of 25 points and 10 rebounds are on pace to launch him into legendary company. If Joel Embiid keeps this up, he would join NBA Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone and Bob Pettit. This season's mega highlights include a 50 point rout against the Magic on January 19, and a 42-point, 14-rebound game against the Pelicans on January 25. The 7-foot, 280-pound man has also broken Allen Iverson's Sixers record of averaging a consecutive 25 points, with 16 games straight.
Embiid leads the team with 27 20-point games and 21 30-point performances, which is second in the NBA. He also has six 40-point games, which ranks him first in the league, and he is one of six players with a 50-point outing. Joel Embiid's grand performances have given the Sixers a 29–19 record so far this season. That puts the team in a tie with Easern Conference rival Brooklyn Nets, as they battle for 4th. The Sixers also have a top 10 offense, a top 15 defense and one of the best road records (17–9) in the NBA.
This All-Star selection has Joel Embiid joining fellow legends Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James as the only players to be named starters in each of the last five All-Star Games.
Check out the All-Stars for both conferences below.
All season long Sixers fans have been longing for the return for the return or trading of Ben Simmons.
Embiid believes they are top contender when they are at their best. Fans believe they would be a championship contender with another All-Star caliber player to accompany Joel Embiid. But alas, Ben hasn't played a single game since his public refusal to play with the team. Sixers' GM Darryl Morey is not willing to budge on any trade offers that don't suit his equivalent of Ben Simmons' value. Trade rumors have included All-Stars like James Harden, John Wall, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal. Those trades seem unlikely for the Sixers. Darryl Morey has stated that he is willing to wait out the entirety Ben Simmon's $177 million, 4-year contract to get rid of him.
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