Joel Embiid is a tremendous player, and if all goes according to plan with his health, the Philadelphia 76ers will have a strong centerpiece for the foreseeable future.
However, it is no secret that Embiid is beginning to show signs of impatience regarding the delicate way in which the organization is treating him.
In short, Embiid isn’t a fan of his minutes restriction at the outset of the 2017-2018 season, and on Friday, he voiced concern about not appearing in back-to-back games to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“I just want to feel like an NBA player. I feel like I’m not an NBA player because I don’t play back to backs”
Embiid is not, of course, the only player in the league who would be held out of back-to-backs, but on the other hand, he is very young, and that is usually a restriction held for established veterans. Philly’s multi-talented center is not exactly a “normal” prospect, though, as Embiid has battled numerous injuries that have limited him to just 31 games in three seasons.
In some ways, it’s admirable that the Sixers are fighting the urge to deploy Embiid more and more, even if they exceeded his stated 20-minute limit in the season opener. It is only a matter of time until, if healthy, Embiid begins to play on consecutive nights, but he isn’t there just yet and the young big man doesn’t appear to be thrilled.
