He’s the NBA’s mystery man. Sporadically seen on social media clips with a basketball in his hands, often just making low-stress moves while wearing practice gear instead of a uniform, Joel Embiid hasn’t played in an actual game since 2014, during his one-and-done stop at Kansas.
Will Embiid become Philadelphia’s savior — a perennial all-star and franchise center? Will injuries rob him of ever becoming a productive NBA player? When will he finally make his professional debut, now almost two years removed from the 76ers taking him third overall in the draft?
No one really knows for certain how the years ahead will play out for the 7-foot phenom from Cameroon, still just 22 years old, and projected to suit up for Philadelphia during the 2016-17 campaign.
Two surgeries on the navicular bone in Embiid’s right foot have meant two full seasons of watching from the sidelines for a big man who many [scouts and analysts didn’t mind comparing to legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon][1].
The intrigue surrounding Embiid remains a popular topic, mostly because Philadelphia has performed historically poorly over the past three seasons:
– *19-63* the year before drafting Embiid
– *18-64* in what would have been Embiid’s rookie season
– and *10-68* with four games to play this year, a.k.a. would-be rookie year Part 2
Even if Embiid had been able to play the past two seasons, it’s unlikely he would have vaulted the Sixers into the playoffs. But whispers of his potential greatness linger, amid the doubts that come with his history of injuries. (Remember: a stress fracture in his back forced him to miss the final month of his one season at KU.)
Former 76ers GM Sam Hinkie, who appeared on ESPN’s [The Lowe Post podcast][2] on Tuesday and happened to resign his position with Philadelphia on Wednesday, openly discussed the unknown surrounding Embiid’s future.
Lowe asked Hinkie, What’s the most likely outcome for Embiid?
**A.) Multi-time all-star**
**B.) Nice starter/rotation player**
**C.) Never becomes a productive NBA player because his injuries are too repetitive and bad**
> “You’re gonna think I’m dodging it,”
> Hinkie replied, “because we don’t
> know.”
Instead of choosing one of the three scenarios, Hinkie took the philosophical route with the first option, asking: How likely is it for any NBA player who has yet to be an all-star to do so multiple times?
> “Generally, I’d say those numbers are
> really small for everybody. … Here’s
> one way to think about Joel: If you
> simplify it into two variables — which
> I think is too much, but for these
> purposes it works all right.
> Likelihood he can play at a really
> high level. And likelihood he is
> available to play at a really high
> level.
>
> “I think since drafting him — and
> everybody had slightly different sets
> of information at the time — but since
> drafting him, I’d say likelihood that
> he can play at a really high level is
> way higher. We’ve seen a lot of
> evidence in our practice gym, and a
> lot of evidence with other NBA players
> and a lot of evidence with his
> teammates like, ‘Whoa. That is
> interesting.’ The likelihood of him
> being available to play has gotten
> worse. Clearly. He was thought to miss
> one season and has missed two. There
> is wild uncertainty on that one.
>
> “But the truth is the outcomes are a
> multiplication of those two
> (scenarios). Hey, he might be
> X-percent likely to be a really good
> player, but he might be only Y-percent
> likely to be available to play. And
> the actual outcome is the
> multiplication of those two. I
> actually think that’s sort of where
> he’ll be. He will be really
> interesting. Or unavailable.”
As happens from time to time, video of Embiid practicing/rehabbing surfaced earlier this week, as the big man took some jumpers at the Sixers’ practice facility during a period open to the media.
Joel Embiid workout. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/OjAuW0CEPg
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) April 4, 2016
More Joel Embiid and #Sixers workout pic.twitter.com/jYUfha8JnQ
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) April 4, 2016
> “He’s like the backup quarterback at
> Alabama,” Hinkie joked, referring to
> the excitement that comes on such
> occasions. “Every time the guy throws
> a touchdown in the spring game all the
> fans freak out. ‘Oh my gosh.'”
[Philly.com’s Keith Pompey reported][3] earlier this week that Embiid just returned from his second rehab-focused trip to Qatar, where the big man visited a hospital known for its orthopedic and sports medicine expertise.
> “It was a little bit more comfortable”
> for him, Sixers coach Brett Brown told
> Philly.com of Embiid’s latest trip to
> southwest Asia. “It’s a little more
> familiar. The resources that they have
> there, and we help cultivate, sending
> over some of our own staff, I think
> just made it an easier second trip
> from a familiarity aspect.”
According to Brown, some of the trip involved formulating a perfect diet for the 7-footer with a history of injuries. Embiid and his Sixers entourage also learned of preventive measures that could keep his foot healthy.
One offseason report this past fall [indicated Embiid formed some bad health habits][4] in his first season of non-basketball existence in the NBA. However, [Brown told ESPN.com earlier this year][5] the center has bought in to changing his ways.
> “He is doing great. I feel like I see
> an older player, a more committed,
> excited player,” Brown said of
> Embiid’s approach following his second
> foot surgery, a bone graft procedure
> on his foot. “The recognition that he
> hasn’t played basketball in a while,
> he can’t miss a bit, he can’t miss a
> step. The circle of people we’ve put
> around him is massive.”
The ESPN.com report painted the picture of a much healthier Embiid, too, with him utilizing a personal chef, and enjoying freshly-squeezed mango juice which waits for him at the Sixers’ facility.
Clearly, the organization wants the best for Embiid. The 76ers knew they took a gamble on the big man when they selected him third overall in the draft, days removed from him suffering a stress fracture in his foot.
Still, the question remains, nearly two years later: Was it worth the risk?
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2014/jul/06/chasing-dream-olajuwon-embiid-inextricably-linked/
[2]: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=15139625
[3]: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20160405_Embiid_completes_second_rehab_in_Qatar.html
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/oct/27/one-of-these-years-maybe-joel-embiid-wil/
[5]: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14938684/man-charged-healing-joel-embiid
