A restoration of faith in the Philadelphia 76ers courtesy of the Nick Nurse led ‘Prime Joel Embiid’ era

What if I told you that the best has yet to come with Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers?

Honestly, like most Sixers fans, I was completely out on the team heading into this season after dealing with yet another drama-filled offseason thanks to career locker room cancer James Harden. I had zero interest in buying in on a team that has consistently let me down every single year in the playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers have absolutely murdered any emotions I have towards basketball. 

Then, James Harden was finally shipped out of Philadelphia, which gave the 76ers some wiggle room with additional draft picks and freedom from salary cap hell following this season. 

Tyrese Maxey has been the primary ball handler and free agent signing Kelly Oubre Jr is averaging over 20 points off the bench through the early goings of the 2023-24 season. 

Nick Nurse has this team moving the basketball on every possession. The entire team has a strategy and there are in-game adjustments being made. The entire roster is finally working around Embiid, which is something former head coach Doc Rivers failed to construct over his three years in Philly. 

As a team, the Sixers entered this season with a fanbase keeping them at arms length. The entire NBA has considered “the process” a failure and not a single member of the media considered the Sixers to be a threat this year. 

Honestly, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers over the past decade. The Sixers fanbase exited the process era with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Markelle Fultz.

Expectations for the three young highly-touted draft picks to win and win now were at an all-time high and as we all know, nothing ever came from the fruits of The Process and the Sixers would end every season since in disappointing fashion. 

Now? There’s nothing left. The Sixers have entered the void. The fanbase has abandoned them. Expectations have never been lower.

The caveat is the fact that the lack of expectations may be the greatest thing that’s ever happened to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Embiid and the Sixers are basically underdogs and there’s literally zero pressure to be anything this season. Pair that with Nick Nurse, draft picks, and salary cap flexibility, and we have this version of the Philadelphia 76ers, who have arguably been one of the best teams in the entire NBA to start this season. 

Peak Joel Embiid was on full display against the Washington Wizards

While most Sixers’ fans have yet to tune in over the first few weeks of the regular season, the rest of us are currently witnessing the Prime Embiid Era.

The craziest part, it looks like Embiid hasn’t even begun to peak.

Joel Embiid DOMINATED last night while only playing 31 minutes (three quarters!!). He scored 48 points on 17-of-25 shooting while hitting all 14 attempts from the charity stripe. Along with a dominant scoring effort, Embiid snagged 11 rebounds and notched six assists on the night. 

In the third quarter alone, Embiid scored 29 points, while shooting 10-for-10 from the floor, the third best mark since quarter by quarter stats were recorded in the 1996-97 season. 

• 37 – Klay Thompson (2015)
• 30 – Kobe Bryant (2006)
• 29 – Joel Embiid (2024)

Embiid joined only Allen Iverson as the only Philadelphia 76ers play EVER with at least 40 career games of 40+ points. 

JOEL EMBIID: 48 PTS | 11 REB | 6 AST

A Chance for an Eastern Conference Statement Tomorrow Night in South Philly 

The 76ers will host the Boston Celtics tomorrow night at The Well. Both the Celtics and 76ers sit atop the Eastern Conference standings at 5-1. Talk about the perfect opportunity for Joel Embiid and company to make an early statement this season. 

Join The Chase