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Bill Simmons Makes a Bold Joel Embiid–Shaquille O’Neal Comparison

Published 12/28/2023, 8:10 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

In the world of basketball genius, Joel Embiid has turned into a shining light of talent and control. Following the cheers for MVP, Embiid’s great season has caught people’s attention all over. Recently, Bill Simmons on his podcast talked about how he couldn’t help reacting to what can only be called an amazing season for the center of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Embiid is a polarizing player. While many consider him to be a once-in-a-lifetime talent, others consider him to be a “soft” player who often flops and baits for fouls. Taking this into account, Bill Simmons’ comparison really does give Embiid’s game a seal of approval that may shut his haters up.

Joel Embiid’s offensive brilliance

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Embiid scores 35 points in every game on average and his amazing offense is being compared to old greats. Bill Simmons says, I think he’s the best offensive center since Kareem in 1972. He said, “This version of Embiid right now is a better player than Shaq.”

But what makes Embiid special is his amazing free-throw shooting. He’s really good at making free throws with 89.3% accuracy. He makes 10 out of about 11 tries each game. This is very important, as Simmons says that Embiid makes a strong point to be the best scoring center since Wilt Chamberlain.

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Simmons points out an interesting comparison: In 2000, Shaquille O’Neal scored an average of 29.7 points per game during his MVP season. Now, Embiid is doing even better by getting over 35 points each game. The tiny difference is in Embiid’s better free-throw shooting. For Simmons, this makes him a better player than the famous Shaq.

Embiid Out, 76ers Face Road Challenges vs. Rockets

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Amidst the excitement of Joel Embiid’s offensive prowess, the Philadelphia 76ers face adversity on their four-game road trip, particularly in their upcoming clash with the Houston Rockets. Sadly, for the third game in a row, they’ll be missing Embiid. He got an ankle sprain during a big win against the Toronto Raptors on December 22.

Without Joel Embiid, there’s a big hole to fill. When the 76ers face a hard time, it becomes important to notice how Embiid’s injury affects their play. People ask if they can keep going strong without him.

Looking forward, fans are excited about Embiid’s maybe coming back on January 2nd when the 76ers play against the Bulls. The road trip can be hard, but the team wants their top-level player to come back. They hope this will help them do well.

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Can Joel Embiid win his back-to-back MVP this season? Is he better than Shaq as Bill Simmons says? Let us know your thoughts.

Watch This Story – Joel Embiid crowns rivals Celtics as best team after suffering humiliation at home

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Written by:

Abhinav Tomar

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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe