Joel Embiid came into the league as a very frail big man. He was drafted No.3 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. His first few seasons had him dealing with injuries that crippled his ability to play at a high level. After sorting that out, he only went on to put up outstanding numbers and earn himself a reputation as the best center in the league. Soon, his hard work would pay off and the league would give him what he deserved.
After several seasons of being selected over Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, the Sixer was finally named the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year. In the previous two seasons, Joel Embiid ranked top three consistently but always fell short due to his unimpressive playoff stints.
During the 2022-23 Season, he averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He led the 76ers to a 54-28 record finishing as the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
your 2022-23 @Kia NBA MVP: @JoelEmbiid 🏆#KiaMVP pic.twitter.com/DNqnd5g9EY
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 2, 2023
Initially, his height proved to be his biggest disadvantage. But he learned how to utilize it well and build his strength to conquer. By the time you know it, Embiid was a major bully on the basketball court. He knows how to dominate the court on both ends but his scoring is what impressed everyone the most. Now let’s take a look into certain aspects that adds to his ability.
Joel Embiid is listed at 7 feet tall
Joel Embiid’s size is one of his biggest advantages. He stands at 7ft 0in tall and weighs around 240 lbs. This is exactly why he is so tough to handle within the paint and his broad body blocks the sight of the offense. Even though he is as big as he is, Embiid is very agile. He can move pretty quickly to shake off defenders or drive through the basket as well.
To add more armory, his wingspan is 7ft 6in wide. Here is another advantage that he uses very well. Embiid can block shots very easily from any point of the court. While playing defense, his hands can almost block out the vision of his opponents. His gifted size and body are almost like a disability to his opponents. He also throws down massive dunks and plays vital lockdown defense.
Speaking of dunks, according to RevUp Sports, his vertical jump is listed at 37 inches. Not the highest leap ever since but just enough lift-off for him to dominate the court. This also gives him an advantage at rebounding as well. Overall, he has a complete physique for a center in the NBA, with just the amount of height, width, and power.
