by Is Joel Embiid a temple of fame? NBA experts originally weigh on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Fans of Sixers will no longer see Joel Embiid playing this season. The complications surrounding his left knee did not allow him to do so, and the team does not have a solidified treatment plan in place, at least any they have shared with anyone.
By thinking optimistic, the team will open the 2025-26 season with its star ready to leave. On the other hand, if they do not find a way to allow Embiid to play without pain, his NBA career could be ended at the age of 31.
His career has certainly been roller coaster at this stage, with as many low points (and maintenance patterns) as dizzying heights.
If Embiid arrives to hang up, is his career worthy of induction at the renowned temple?
It is a questionable premise. At its best, little was better. He played nine seasons, was appointed to the stars match in seven of them and won five All-NBA honors. He is one of the seven players in the history of the NBA to publish several seasons of 30 points and ten reimbursements. He won the league MVP two years ago, finished second in the vote twice. He won two score titles and was on track to a third (and perhaps a second MVP trophy) last season before missing two months with a torn side meniscus who required surgery. When he is in good health, he is undoubtedly among the best players in his time.
Healthy.
His injury battles are the other side of the argument. From the start of his career, injuries chased him away from the injuries that went from logic to ridiculous. He was selected third in the 2014 draft and did his NBA debut until two years later, after having broken (and re -re -assembled) a bone in his foot.
It was first the foot, then the left knee. He broke his face, torn his finger, injured in the right knee, fell with Covid-19, tore a ligament in his thumb, broke his face again, needed an operation of the left knee and even treated a blow of Bell paralysis, temporarily paralyzing his face. From the 2016-17 season, Embiid played 452 regular season games. At the end of this season, he will have missed 267 games, more than three complete seasons.
He is also short when it comes to leading his team to the success of the playoffs. During his 9 -year career, his team did not progress after the second round in any season, and his statistical production is not as good as that he publishes in the regular season.
So where does it leave it? I interviewed several NBA experts in the Embiid Salle region, receiving answers that have made solid points for both sides of the argument.
Marc Zumoff, the former NBC Sports Philadelphia Sixers Play-By Play Voice: This is a sticky question because after some quick research, it does not seem to be that a MVP or the winner of a score title (Joel did both) has never left, or seems to be going, at the Hall of Fame. Joel has already played close to the same number of games as the late Bill Walton renowned temple, although Walton won two NBA titles and two NCAA titles. These titles are the difference. If Joel was forced to retire today, I would say no, it is not a temple of fame. But I hope there are many more productive seasons to come.
Kurt Helin, editor -in -chief of the NBA / Publisher General, NBCSports.com: Although “worthy” is an eye for the question of the spectator (I tend to have higher standards than the voters of the room themselves), but for me, it is a fairly easy answer once I thought about it. To the great dismay of philly fans, I would say yes. Unequivocal.
Each former MVP has made the room (those who are still active have not yet been elected but will be). The Embiid curriculum vitae – double score champion, five -time quintuple, seven times All -Star, three times entirely defense – is that of a reputation temple. I do not think he was finished, but if his career ended today, we were looking back in five years and see one guy who was one of the most dominant players of his generation, even if he was not up to his own potential. His career could be considered a little disappointing in Philadelphia due to the lack of success of the playoffs, but that is not all that enters the temple of fame.
Embiid does it.
Marc Jackson, NBC Sports Philadelphia Sixers Analyst, 7 years old veteran of the NBA: It is a talent for the temple of fame. Unfortunately, because of the duration of his career, he would not be in the temple of fame.
Marcus Hayes, columnist, Philadelphia Inquirer: Given the low bar to enter the temple of basketball renown, certainly, with its stars appearances and the MVP price, it deserves to be in the room. However, if it was a more demanding temple of fame, like baseball, then I think that its brief career, combined with its post-season failures, its reduction in post-season production, its poor character and its professionalism and its abyssal leadership would disqualify it for most voters.
Noah Levick, Beat Writer Sixers, NBC Sports Philadelphia: Embiid has already cleared the renowned temple bar.
On the one hand, he checked many large boxes – MVP; Double score champion; Seven times All-Star; Olympic gold medalist. The previous one is that these kinds of players are the temple of fame.
As fans of Sixers know, the (healthy) presence of Embiid has considerably raised the team on both sides of the ball. Between the 2020-21 and 2023-24 seasons, it has an average of 31.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 interceptions. It does not hurt either that he has set a score record of all time of the Sixers with an incredibly easy performance of 70 points.
The large criticism that Embiid has not been very successful in the playoffs is valid, but his post-season work has many positive points. The main reason why the Sixers failed to qualify for the 2019 Eastern Conference final was the team’s failure to play at a distance from Pastable basketball with Embiid on the bench, which was a theme of their career. He has often emptied through important physical problems – putting on a protective mask after suffering from orbital fractures, playing by Bell’s paralysis, you call it – to publish major numbers in the playoffs.
For example, he dropped 50 points in match 3 of the Sixers defeat in the first round against the Knicks last year and has an average of 33.0 in the series. The playoffs are not the most brilliant place in the Embiid curriculum vitae, but its play in the playoffs is not far from a legitimate reason to keep it out of the renowned temple.
No more games under the Embiid belt would obviously help. They are not necessary, however. He played 452 games from the regular season NBA. The centers of the Ralph Sampson renowned temple, Bill Walton and Yao Ming all played less than 500 due to injury problems. Whatever happens to Embiid, one day he deserves the status of the reproductive temple.
Alaa Abdelnaby, NBC Sports Philadelphia Sixers Color Analyst, 5 years old NBA veteran: I would say yes because there has never been an NBA MVP which did not enter the room. There are 9 MVP (including Joel) who are still playing who will eventually enter all. Whatever views people have of him, it would be unprecedented for him not to enter.
Jim Lynam, NBC Sports Philadelphia Sixers Analyst, former head coach of the NBA and Managing Director: For me, it’s a resounding yes – with little or no debate. Essentially, it is one of the most unique talents of all time. His individual figures support the case that he was one of the most complete centers in the history of the game – a force in attack and defense.
Ben Wallace, Bobby Jones and Mark Eaton are (and rightly) as three of the best defenders in the history of the NBA. None would be considered an overwhelming offensive talent. Embiid was elite at both ends of the ground for its first 8 seasons (its defense fell spectacular this season).
