The Philadelphia 76ers signed Center Joel Embiid to a five-year max scale rookie contract extension worth $148 million initially reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Embiid played 31 games for the Sixers in 2016 before undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to remove part of his meniscus. In those 31 games, Embiid averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Despite the abridged season, Embiid’s name was still in Rookie of the Year chatter at the end of the season thanks to his impressive numbers.
The deal comes amidst recent questions if Embiid is durable enough to play an entire season. After evaluation, the Sixers’ medical team must have reason to believe that Embiid’s past injuries should not hinder his future progress. They trust the process, and so should we.
Given the small sample size, Embiid has a high ceiling in the NBA. However, the details of the deal are still emerging pertaining to possible bonuses as well as protection for the Sixers should history repeat itself.
The max level extension provides a sigh of relief to Sixers fans who are concerned about Embiid’s endurance. As the medical team and trainers trust The Process, hopefully this means we get to see the Embiid show on and off the court all season.
Aside from his stats, Embiid’s eccentric personality and social media presence have secured his place as a fan favorite in Philadelphia. The extension ensures that Embiid will be a Sixer for the development of his promising career.
Embiid and the Sixers open the season against the Washington Wizards on Oct. 18 at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. As the process finally comes to fruition, the Sixers, and fans, are in for an exciting ride.
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