National Basketball Association

Joel Embiid Prepared To Take On The Memphis Grizzlies

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:36 p.m. ET

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The 1-2 Philadelphia 76ers look to even up against the resilient Memphis Grizzlies. But head coach has placed this team’s future on the back of Joel Embiid. Tonight, Joel Embiid shows why.

After an off-season that did all it was expected to do, namely restore optimism for the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers, some bouncing back to earth was surely due. But that reentry was a tad premature, as the Philadelphia 76ers have seen none to very limited play from a half of the team’s roster. In fact, if not for the heroics of Richaun Holmes this preseason, the mood of the entire team might be subdued. But there are other forces at work now. Like a heated pot filled with water, the bubbles are just beginning to form.

We’ve been awaiting the game of Joel Embiid to arrive, despite two years sabbatical from the NBA. So far, it has been arriving, a piece at a time.

In game one of the preseason, his post defense arrived against the Boston Celtics. In that debut, he scored six points. But the 7-foot-2 center pulled down four rebounds and rejected two shots. His defense flashed for the NBA. In his second outing, he showed he could be just as physical as Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat. In that contest, Embiid scored five points, pulled in three rebounds, and put up one block. But as he flashed his strength, he began to understand that he had to exploit his size and strength to score consistently.

In game three, Embiid built upon the first two games, scoring 12 points, pulling down four rebounds, and blocking a shot in 13 minutes. Now he faces the Memphis Grizzlies.

Oct 8, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers won 108-105. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Building A Mystery

With each game, and each 12 minute segment, his skill grows. It’s as though he records his experience and learns instantly how to respond by the next game. It’s not just Philadelphia 76ers fans who are believers. Now NBA pros are jumping onto the bandwagon.

While it’s too early for NBA players to weigh in, you can bet the actions on the basketball court have been all about respecting the 7-foot-2 Cameroon.

And so it begins. The NBA is already aware of young 76er center, and is already acting to treat him with the respect of a veteran. And it’s only been 37 minutes of playing basketball in over two years.

Say that again…?!?!

Yes, 37 minutes in over two years. In that amount of time, he is winning over experts and players. But how high is his ceiling? Today, it’s a mystery.

Oct 6, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) leans on the scores table before action against the Washington Wizards at Wells Fargo Center. The Washington Wizards 125-119. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Compound interest

Joel Embiid is not interested in a moment in the spotlight. He is not about making a headline. He is not even interested in a single winning season.
His interest in the game of basketball is to achiever elite status. Not just for the sake of, but to prove to the NBA universe that Sam Hinkie was correct. Joel Embiid wants to show all that he was worth the wait, the investment of time and the best medical expertise on the planet. And yes, even the career of President Sam Hinkie.

To get him to this point, it required all of these ingredients. He has a debt to repay, and he plans to do so with interest. Compound interest.

Joel Embiid does not shy away from pressure. In fact, he puts it on himself. Head coach Brett Brown knows his center very well and knows what will and won’t work for him. It’s that need to be counted on that has convinced Brown to turn up the heat on his young center. Even that pressure is not enough. Embiid is turning up the heat on himself as well.

Joel Embiid playfully trash-talks on Chandler Parsons‘ Instagram page before preseason game 😂 https://t.co/neHCB5nAK0 pic.twitter.com/0aYeeefEgO

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 11, 2016

You might think it’s foolish to trash talk with less than a full hour of NBA playing time under his belt. For any other player, that would be good advice. But Joel Embiid is like a heavyweight boxer. Knock him down, he gets up and comes at you harder. Joel Embiid is coming for the title.

Oct 6, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Wizards guard Sheldon McClellan (9) attempts to shoot the ball as Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) defends during the first half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Next Level

Joel Embiid is walking a path few can navigate. He attracts attention and pressure, using that energy to fuel his own development. And with each passing game, it appears as though he has already adjusted to challenges from the previous game, and learned to overcome them.

Now that he has begun to score more consistently, and defend well, the next level will be to engage his teammates. Passing out of double teams, setting undefendable pick and rolls, pulling down a rebound and starting a fast break. These are all areas Joel Embiid must perfect to achieve elitism.

In short, his aura must extend to his teammates.

So what will that mean in his game against the Memphis Grizzlies? Look for his game to ratchet up a level. That means he will add something new to his game: whether steal, assist, passing out of double teams, or driving the ball to the hoop coast-to-coast. Joel Embiid is building himself, taking his flaws from previous games and converting those deficiencies into strengths.

Regardless of what we say about Joel Embiid, positive or negative, he is on course now. A close friend and brilliant mentor brought him into the NBA as the third pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, when his skills and talent earned his selection as the top pick. But his foot, and his prospects, were broken. Only Sam Hinkie had the patience to heal both for Embiid.

And much like a broken bone, his NBA outlook is now stronger for it.