In less than a season worth of action in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers' rising star in Joel Embiid has proven to be a highly-talented player on both ends of the court.
This has built a great deal of confidence in his own abilities as he told Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports that he believes he is the best defensive player in the league.
Embiid: "Not to be cocky, but I think I’m the best defensive player in the league right now."
— Jessica Camerato (@JessicaCamerato) November 23, 2017
The 23-year-old has proven to be a versatile player on the defensive end of the floor, being able to guard multiple positions while remaining an effective rim protector currently ranking sixth in the league with 1.9 blocks per game. This includes registering a block in all but four Sixers games this season and multiple blocks eight times highlighted by a career-high seven denials against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 15.
The talent has never been a question with Joel Embiid, but rather his ability to remain healthy through the duration of an entire season. He played in just 31 games in his rookie campaign before suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee which prematurely ended his debut season.
If Embiid is able to show that he can avoid any lingering injuries, there's no reason to believe that the Sixers center won't be up for consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Follow Us
Subscribe