The Philadelphia 76ers have performed better than plenty of people expected them to this season. They have shaken off the James Harden trade saga that hung over them early in the season and run out to a 23-10 record, which has put them in third place in the Eastern Conference and within striking distance of challenging for the best record in the conference.
On Tuesday, Joel Embiid returned after missing the last four games with an ankle injury. With the Sixers playing the floundering Chicago Bulls, he went on the attack, putting up 31 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and two blocked shots in an easy 110-97 victory.
The victory was so easy that Embiid did not play at all in the fourth quarter. As a result, he became the first NBA player ever to have at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter.
Embiid, the reigning regular season MVP, is seemingly playing even better this season than he did last season. Including Tuesday’s game, he’s averaging 34.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.0 blocks per game.
NBA News & Rumors: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Just a few years ago, he was considered a great player, but he was criticized for allegedly being out of shape and not being committed enough to conditioning and a proper diet. But over the last two seasons, he has fulfilled the immense potential he has always displayed.
With Harden long gone, Embiid is unquestionably the main man in Philly, and he has been aided by the emergence of Tyrese Maxey as an All-Star-caliber player. Maxey, a 6-foot-2, 23-year-old guard, is putting up 25.9 points and 6.4 dimes per contest so far this season.
The sustained success that Philly has had has made it easy to forget that just a couple of months ago, there were whispers that Embiid may have wanted out once Harden was traded. That didn’t come to pass, and now the team is starting to look like a legitimate championship contender.
Perhaps it cannot defeat the Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks in a best-of-seven as presently constituted, but it has a lot to feel happy and hopeful about as 2024 starts.
