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Coming off a Play-In Game win over the Miami Heat to earn the No. 7 seed in the East, reigning league MVP Joel Embiid still looked somewhat gimpy and yet still put up 23 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in the one-point win over Miami.
Even if Embiid didn’t look so good in the play-in game, even at 70 percent of his peak form, he should be trouble for Knicks. After all, he’s one of the most productive players per minute in NBA history.
Joel Embiid averaged 1.034 points per minute this season.
It’s the best mark since Wilt put up 50 points per contest back in 1962 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BQkjZ7KBym
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) April 15, 2024
Most points+rebounds+assists+blocks+steals per minute in NBA history:
1. Joel Embiid: 1.415 per minute
2. Victor Wembanyama: 1.358
3. Luka Doncic: 1.354
4. Nikola Jokic: 1.295
5. Wilt Chamberlain: 1.253
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 1.230Just an FYI. pic.twitter.com/v6yNzOFCfv
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) March 18, 2024
Embiid, who has yet to establish himself as an elite playoff performer in his career, would rank higher on this list if he were healthier heading into the first-round matchup against a fierce Knicks squad. Even accounting for his poor health at the moment, what will Embiid detractors say if he’s unable to get past even the first round of the playoffs this season? We might not have to wait long to find out.
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