Shaq: Joel Embiid is the “Baddest Guy in the League”

Assuming you haven’t been living under a rock in the Philadelphia area, you probably know that Joel Embiid is playing basketball at a historic level of greatness over the past two months. Embiid and the 76ers are currently 28-19 in the Eastern Conference, sitting in sixth and only 2.5 games out of first place. Tonight, they will welcome Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to town. You can read the full preview, odds, and predictions for the matchup here.
The list of accolades for Joel Embiid over the past two months continues to grow longer with every game. Embiid is currently in the midst of a 15-game run where he is averaging 34.7 points per game, which is the most points by a 7-footer since Wilt Chamberlain retired.
Embiid has scored 170 points in just over 128 minutes over his last four games, good for 1.32 points per minute. Again, the only player in history with higher points per minute over a 4-game span since minutes became official in 1951-52 is Wilt Chamberlain.
Embiid joined Allen Iverson as the only 76ers player in franchise history to score 25+ points in at least 15 straight games. He is the first NBA player with 30+ points and 12+ rebounds in 4 straight games since Bob McAdoo in 1975.
The list goes on and on and honestly, it’s boring to keep up with at this point because it’s so expected given the level that Embiid is performing. Sixers Stats & Info on Twitter has a beautiful running log of all records and milestones. Be sure to check them out here.
Last night Shaq gave his vote for the “baddest guy in the league” Joel Embiid as the current front runner in the NBA MVP race.
He also mentioned that Ben Simmons does not want to be with the Philadelphia 76ers so forget him, which I couldn’t agree with more, so thank you, Shaq.
Shaq: Joel Embiid is the “Baddest Guy in the League”
Shaq also mentioned that the media shouldn’t penalize a player in MVP voting based on their teams record. I couldn’t agree more. Joel Embiid has carried the Sixers on his back over the past two months and honestly, without him, the Sixers are a lottery team. That is the only thing that should matter when considering who the NBA’s Most Valuable Player is across the league.
Major League Baseball proved record doesn’t matter in MVP voting after giving the award to Bryce Harper last season. What Embiid is doing now is something that I have personally never witnessed anyone else on a basketball court doing and I had season tickets in the Iverson-era of 76ers basketball.
Lebron James and the Lakers in South Philly tonight. Trust the Process.
[…] night, Shaquille O’Neal complimented Joel Embiid, calling him the baddest guy in the league and the clear front-runner for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Before the Sixers tipped off […]