The New Level of Joel Embiid in 2023-24
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid finally got his hardware after the 2022-23 season. However, the disappointment of another defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics must’ve pushed him to an even higher level.
The 7-foot-0 center from Cameroon passed the midway point of the 2023-24 season with the Philadelphia 76ers on pace to shatter his career-highs in per-game scoring and assist average, both set last season. He’s the favorite to repeat as the league’s MVP (if he passes the new 65-game eligibility threshold).
Joel Embiid At A New Level in 2023-24
Embiid stormed out of the gates with a vengeance this season. It’s tough to alter the attitude of the Sixers fan base that’s withstood so much heartbreak in recent seasons. He somehow taken his game to a new level and made it look easy.
“For Joel, he loves adding things to his game. This year, because of the changes and because of all his offseason work and Nick Nurse and the new teammates, he’s coming to work excited that he’s showing more of his versatility. He’s really thriving in that, and it shows up on the defensive end too…He keeps surprising us and even playing better.” –Daryl Morey
His momentum halted on Christmas Day with an ankle injury. He missed nine of 11 games through Jan. 15. He quickly took the new 2023-24 level to an even higher level. Consecutive 41-point performances announced the healthy return of an NBA superstar. The second came against reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic.
The peak of his season came on Jan. 22 against rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Embiid set a franchise record with 70 points in a 133-123 victory at the Wells Fargo Center, eclipsing the mark set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967.
Tom McGinnis Praises Embiid
Sixers play-by-play announcer Tom McGinnis joined The John Kincade Show for their monthly First Friday broadcast in January. He lauded the opportunity to call a transcendent player who will go down as one of the best 76ers in franchise history.
“To Joel, he’s making it look so easy. It’s unbelievable, some of these 15-point quarters, 18-point quarters and just dropping it in at the basket…What he’s doing, Joel, obviously statistically, is rubbing up against some of the greats like Chamberlain and (Kareem Abdul-) Jabbar.” –Tom McGinnis
McGinnis couldn’t stress enough the effortless mannerisms Embiid shows on the basketball court with regularity.
“You think of Wilt, and you see that picture of him just laying it in the cup… Joel is doing that. Some of these deke post-ups and just jogging back like ‘How would you like me to carve you up now?’ because he can do many things.” -McGinnis
Philadelphia fans began the 2023-24 season thinking about offseason drama involving James Harden instead of focusing on Joel Embiid. They needed a reason to believe things would be different after six consecutive disappointing playoff exits. It didn’t seem like a player in-house who was a part of those losses could change their attitude.
Embiid has somehow done it with ease.
Watch The John Kincade Show on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.
16 Obscure Players of the Philadelphia 76ers Process
Tony Wroten
The most incredible stat of The Process era came from Tony Wroten. He became the first player in NBA history with a triple-double in his first career start. The Sixers beat the Rockets in overtime on Nov. 13, 2013 behind Wroten’s shocking effort.
James Anderson
Wroten had the most ridiculous stat line in the matchup against the Rockets. Anderson came close with a career-high 36 points.
Jarvis Varnado
Varnado had a few cups of coffee around the league before The Process began. He played 23 of his 37 career NBA games for the 76ers in 2013-14.
Casper Ware
He didn’t last long, but Casper made it to the show. He averaged 5.3 points in nine games for the 76ers in 2013-14.
Henry Sims
Sims used his 6-foot-10 frame to average double figures in 26 games for the Sixers in 2013-14. He hung through the 2014-15 season.
Hollis Thompson
Poor Hollis Thompson. He played 256 games for the 76ers, and the front office didn’t try to put together a team to win a single one of them. He left Philadelphia the first season they started trying to compete, and he only played nine NBA games the remainder of his career.
JaKarr Sampson
You probably didn’t see it coming at the time. JaKarr Sampson carved out a nice NBA career for himself. He played the last of his 236 NBA games in 2020-21.
K.J. McDaniels
He was a sensation for a few short months. It looked like Hinkie struck gold in the second round, but the timing didn’t work out. The Sixers traded McDaniels at the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline.
Furkan Aldemir
He’s the second-most famous Furkan associated with the modern era of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brandon Davies
Brandon Davies had a good career at BYU. He went on to play 71 of his 78 career NBA games for the Sixers in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Alexey Shved
The Sixers acquired Alexey Shved as part of the trade that sent Thaddeus Young to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He only lasted for 17 games in Philadelphia.
Ish Smith
Take advantage of a team that needs someone to take shots. There’s nothing to lose. Ish Smith used opportunities during The Process to help him become a true journeyman of the NBA with stints on 13 NBA teams.
Isaiah Canaan
It’s tough to play point guard and distribute the ball to players that a front office doesn’t believe should compete in the NBA. Isaiah Canaan did it for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 Sixers.
Kendall Marshall
Marshall bounced around with three NBA teams before becoming a victim of The Process. He played his final 30 games in the NBA for the 2015-16 Sixers.
Sergio Rodriguez
The Spanish point guard never failed to excite 97.5 The Fanatic play-by-play announcer Tom McGinnis. He played 68 games in 2015-16, the final season of the tank.
Byron Mullens
Byron Mullens had averaged double figures for the Charlotte Bobcats the previous season. He didn’t find his groove in 18 games with the 76ers in 2013-14.
