Sixers draft history: Joel Embiid selected No. 3 overall in 2014
Sixers draft history: Joel Embiid selected No. 3 overall in 2014
With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise's history.
This edition moves ahead to the 2014 NBA draft as the Sixers were still looking for that centerpiece for their rebuild. With the No. 3 pick in the draft, Philadelphia found it in the form of Joel Embiid.
Of course, it was a rocky start for Embiid as he did miss the first two years of his career due to foot injuries and then only played 31 games in his rookie season in 2016-17, but in those 31 games, he showed a glimpse of what the Sixers were getting. He averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.5 blocks in those games and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
Since then, Embiid has morphed into a top 3 player in the game. He averages 27.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.6 blocks. He won the MVP award in the 2022-23 season when he averaged 33.1 points and he also has Philadelphia's single-game scoring record with 70 points in a win over the San Antonio Spurs in 2024.
Embiid's career has been marred by injuries. He only played 19 games in the 2024-25 season, but when he is healthy, he is the most dominant player in the game. There aren't many players in the league who can slow him down and he is hoping to return to that stature in 2025-26.
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