Getty Images
Joel Embiid made Philadelphia 76ers historical past Wednesday evening simply 5 minutes into the sport towards the Cleveland Cavaliers. With a driving layup within the first quarter that resulted in an and-1 alternative, Embiid reached 10,000 profession factors. Embiid completed that feat in 373 video games, which passes Allen Iverson for the fewest video games wanted to achieve 10,000 factors in Sixers historical past. Iverson wanted 378 video games, whereas Charles Barkley took 445 video games to cross that threshold. Embiid can be the thirteenth participant in NBA historical past to achieve that mark that shortly.
The bucket that obtained Embiid to that time complete was an ideal instance of how particular of a participant he’s. Not many large males can deal with the ball like Embiid does, and he drives proper previous Cleveland’s Evan Mobley to get to the rim for the basket and foul. That’s a 7-foot, 280-pound heart doing one thing often reserved for guards or athletic forwards.
Embiid reaching 10K factors in fewer video games than Iverson and Barkley is already spectacular, however what’s even crazier is how he managed to try this in much less video games regardless of lacking the primary two and a half seasons of his profession resulting from accidents. Just think about that if he was wholesome to begin his profession, he would’ve handed this milestone some time in the past. Embiid’s accomplishment additionally makes him simply the eighth lively heart within the NBA to achieve 10,000 factors, and he is achieved it in 100 fewer video games than anybody else on the checklist.
This milestone highlights how dominant of a participant Embiid has been not simply this season, however all through his profession when wholesome. He’s probably the most full large man in immediately’s recreation, able to bullying defenders within the publish, placing the ball on the deck to attain off the bounce and pull up for an occasional 3-pointer. On the opposite finish of the ground, he is simply as spectacular as a rim protector down low within the paint, which has earned him three All-Defensive nods. He completed second in MVP voting a season in the past and is a candidate for the award once more this 12 months whereas main a Philadelphia group that has the potential to make some noise within the postseason.
