There are several talented centers in today's NBA, but Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid is striving to be the best in the league as the Sixers try to move toward winning a title.

“I want people to think of me as the most unstoppable player in the game,” Embiid told Jackie MacMullan in a recent ESPN interview.

The Sixers star is open about his claim to being the best big man in the NBA. Some view his sort of rash bravado as a bad trait to have, but his teammate, Jimmy Butler, says it's often blown out of proportion:

“You're preaching to the choir,” Butler told ESPN. “You get to a certain point in this league when they come after you if you do something wrong. And even if you do it right, it's still wrong. Anything I do or say is blown out of proportion. Same with Joel.

“I love it. And he does, too.”

Embiid is viewed as a top-5 talent in the league, but the injury bug kept him on the sidelines at various points throughout this season. In fact, tendinitis in his left knee forced him to miss 14 of the final 24 games of the regular season.

Embiid, who did not participate in the Sixers' Monday morning's practice session due to a case of gastroenteritis, is back in the lineup, but he's struggling to find a good rhythm.

In Saturday's Game 1 loss to the Toronto Raptors, he went 1-for-8 from the field when guarded by Marc Gasol — a sizable big with loads of veteran experience. In total, Embiid scored 16 points on 5-of-18 shooting, eight rebounds and two assists.

Embiid's next shot to validate his claim as the best big man in the NBA comes on Monday night, when the Sixers face the Raptors for Game 2 of their second round series.