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#3 Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
Joining Ben Simmons on this list, and deservedly so, is Joel Embiid (Also of the Philadelphia 76ers). Embiid represents Cameroon internationally and is the 3rd player of Cameroonian origin to play in the NBA.
Philadelphia have had rotten luck with injuries in the recent past- with Simmons (first pick in 2016 draft) missing the entire 2016-17 season and Markelle Fultz (first pick in 2017 draft) missing all but 3 games of the 2017-18 regular season. Even Joel Embiid, selected 3rd overall in the 2014 draft, missed 2 straight seasons due to a broken navicular bone in his foot.
However, showing sheer resilience and mental capability, Embiid persevered and took the league by storm. Last season, without the services of Simmons, he carried the 76ers on his shoulders and gave rise to optimism for the future- something that the franchise had not had in a long time.
This season, with Simmons by his side and the addition of veterans such as JJ Redick and the resurgence of TJ McConnell and Robert Covington, he has carried the franchise to new heights.
Embiid has become one of the most dominant centers in the league today and made his first All-Star appearance this season. He tallied a consistent 23 points per game (ahead of the likes of Kyle Lowry, Chris Paul, et al) which is 12th overall and 3rd highest among centers in the NBA.
He is 4th in the entire NBA in blocks per game this season with 1.8 and couples this with 11 rebounds per game in the regular season. His 7-foot frame makes him a menace on the defensive end- with many touting him to develop into a DPOY contender in the (very) near future. He is 8th overall in defensive stats in the NBA this season.
In the end, it isn't skills or ability that is holding Embiid back and preventing him from rising to higher spots in not only this list but the NBA as a whole, it is his injury-prone tendencies.
Simmons is back to his healthy best after missing the entirety of last season but Embiid has struggled with injuries this season as well (not to mention the 2 seasons he missed entirely due to injury).
While he has what it takes to get to the very top, a lot depends on how healthy Embiid can stay in the coming seasons. On a good, injury-free day, Joel Embiid is stuff that nightmares are made of.
