Joel Embiid’s quiet dominance, a towering 7-foot force, seems to be flying somewhat under the radar this season. Despite being the league’s top scorer by a significant margin and the reigning MVP, he appears to be playing second fiddle in headlines to his teammate, Tyrese Maxey. While Maxey, a standout from day one in Philly, is the new focal point and a central figure in the league’s most compelling narratives as James Harden’s replacement, Embiid’s dominance almost feels overshadowed.
Embiid’s stats are impressive—he’s averaging over 33 points per game and recently dropped a staggering 50 points against the Wizards, along with 13 rebounds and seven assists. This remarkable performance puts him in esteemed company alongside Wilt Chamberlain in 76ers history, marking his fourth game with at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
Joel Embiid’s Quiet Dominance In League
It’s a phenomenon we’ve seen before in the NBA. Superstars like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic routinely notch triple-doubles, and LeBron James, now in his 21st season at 39 years old, continues to defy expectations. Yet, these exceptional feats often become normalized, leading to less fanfare and discussion.
Similarly, Embiid’s consistent brilliance this season, arguably surpassing his MVP-winning performance last year, seems to be met with a somewhat lackluster reception. In the past five weeks, he’s scored at least 30 points in nearly every game, showcasing an increase in his playmaking abilities with a significant uptick in assists—a departure from his previous style where he didn’t navigate double teams with no-look passes like Jokic but rather utilized Nick Nurse’s system, orchestrating a continuous flow of dribble-handoffs that have elevated his teammates’ involvement in the offense.
Under Doc Rivers and with Harden on board, the Sixers’ half-court offense lacked dynamism, resembling a sluggish survey crew with little energy. Now, with Embiid leading the charge, the team’s tempo has soared. His role as the pivot in this system, creating opportunities through dribble-handoffs, has significantly improved the team’s offensive efficiency, evident in their rise from 13th to sixth in points per possession off these plays compared to last season.
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