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Joel Embiid is easily the most dominant center in the NBA right now. Although it has taken a lot of personal development, the big man has remained dominant year after year.
Injuries have been a significant deterrent to Joel Embiid's progress so far in the league. However, he has put together performances that are worth replaying over and over again.
Playoff success has eluded the Philadelphia 76ers despite the presence of such a forceful player on their roster. It has been a struggle to surround Joel Embiid with the right supporting cast that will nearly guarantee playoff success.
Their 2021 NBA playoffs failure is a true representation of their postseason woes. Despite finishing as the top seed in the East, they lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the conference semi-finals. Joel Embiid did all he could, as much as playing with an injury to help his team progress to the next round, but they fell short in a closely contested Game 7.
Regardless, the Sixers' franchise player still has a lot of time to bring a championship to Philly. As we anticipate greater things from Joel Embiid, let's take a trip down memory lane to commemorate his top five games so far in his career.
#5 Philadelphia 76ers vs Charlotte Hornets - November 2018
A second-half collapse was almost complete as the Charlotte Hornets were up by 3 with less than 40 seconds to end the game. However, Joel Embiid's clutch three-point shot tied the game and forced overtime.
Of his 42 points that night, 21 came in the fourth quarter and overtime. He added 18 rebounds, four blocks and four steals to rally the Sixers to a narrow 133-132 win.
#4 Philadelphia 76ers vs Phoenix Suns - January 2019
On a not-so-efficient night, Joel Embiid put 42 past the Phoenix Suns, converting 12 of 23 field goal attempts. With Jimmy Butler out due to illness, most of the scoring was left to Embiid and he welcomed the challenge.
The Suns made a push late in the game, but Joel Embiid's 30-point first-quarter gave the Philadelphia 76ers enough cushion to withstand the attempted comeback. He finished the game with 42 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals. That marked his second 40-point double-double of the season.
#3 Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers - November 2017
Joel Embiid missed the first two seasons after he was drafted due to a foot injury. However, he came back better, averaging 20.2 points in his unofficial rookie season.
In the 2017-2018 season, Joel Embiid was off to the races early, registering his first career 40-point game after 14 games. He flirted with the triple-double as he could have gotten it with either blocks or assists.
It was an all-around masterclass from the big man, who put in a monster display on both ends of the court. He finished the game with 46 points on 14 of 20 shooting, 15 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks.
#2 Philadelphia 76ers vs Atlanta Hawks - February 2020
The Atlanta Hawks were on the receiving end of one of Joel Embiid's most dominating games of his career. The Cameroonian absolutely bullied the young Hawks team even as they put two bodies on him for most of the game.
Joel Embiid was locked in throughout the game, reaching his then career-high 49 points in only 24 field goal attempts. He ended the game with a three-pointer, the first of three attempts.
The Philadelphia 76ers' 17-point victory was even more impressive because they were on the cusp of losing it wasn't because of Joel Embiid's intervention. Despite taking full control of the first half, the Atlanta Hawks won the third quarter by 18 points and went into the final quarter with a slender 1-point lead.
Joel Embiid took it upon himself to turn things around for the Sixers, scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter. He ended the game with 49 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
#1 Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls - February 2021
The Philadelphia 76ers finished the 2020-21 NBA season as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, all thanks to Joel Embiid's brilliance all season long. He finished the season averaging 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists despite battling injuries.
Joel Embiid exploded for 50 points to lead the Sixers to a 112-105 victory over the Chicago Bulls. His performance put him as a top contender for the 2021 NBA MVP award.
He finished the game with a career-best 50 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and two steals.
