Joel Embiid’s best 5 seasons

Table of Contents

Ah, the annals of NBA history. From the days of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, to Michael Jordan's 'flu game', to LeBron's decision to take his talents to South Beach, every epoch of NBA folklore has its defining stories. And if the late 2010s and early 2020s had a narrative heartbeat, it was centered around the pulsating, always entertaining, and sometimes confounding play of Joel "The Process" Embiid. As we sit back and remember Embiid's career, we're faced with a tantalizing question: Which were his best seasons? Grab your Shirley Temples, folks – we're about to dive deep.

5. 2019-2020 Season

Here's a season that's like the original 'Rocky' - great but overshadowed by its flashier successors. Embiid averaged 23.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. But what made this season stand out was his 3-point shooting, a steady 33.1%. He was stretching the floor in a way reminiscent of, dare I say, a young Dirk Nowitzki. The Sixers, however, didn't have the desired outcome in the playoffs, but "The Process" was still processing. What was especially compelling was his emphasis on setting screens and playing off the ball. You could feel the influence of his basketball IQ growing, with the Sixers' offensive schemes diversifying.

4. 2018-2019 Season

It's hard not to compare this season to the 'Godfather Part II' – an absolute classic that took what was already phenomenal and upped the ante. Embiid's stats this year? A staggering 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. His usage rate surged, painting him as Philly's prime offensive weapon. Remember that stretch in January where he looked like Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaq's basketball offspring? Monster footwork, drop steps, fadeaways – the man was unstoppable. But, like Al Pacino's Michael Corleone, there was a hint of tragic underpinning as the Sixers fell short again in the playoffs, courtesy of Kawhi Leonard's physics-defying series-winning shot.

3. 2021-2022 Season

Okay, think 'Pulp Fiction'. Unexpected, unconventional, and completely groundbreaking. This was the season where Joel became an NBA sophisticate. Averaging 28.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, his game had finesse. But the revelation? A career-high 4.7 assists per game. Embiid was looking like a center version of Magic Johnson out there. He wasn't just scoring, he was setting up his teammates in Picasso-like fashion – every play was a masterpiece in the making. It wasn't just about "Trust the Process" anymore. It was "Behold the Process".

2. 2020-2021 Season

This season was to Embiid's career what 'The Dark Knight' was to the Batman series: A tour-de-force performance that took us all by storm. The numbers speak: 29.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He had a 31.3% usage rate, showcasing his evolution as a primary scoring option. It wasn't just about dunks and layups – Embiid had a mid-range game that looked eerily similar to Tim Duncan in his prime. It's as if Timmy and Hakeem had a secret basketball lovechild who grew up watching Kobe Bryant highlights. The MVP chants at Wells Fargo Center? Oh, they were deafening.

1. 2022-2023 Season

And here we are, at the zenith, the 'Shawshank Redemption' of Joel Embiid seasons – universally beloved and unarguably brilliant. A stat line of 30.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. But what's that? A 40.2% clip from beyond the arc? Embiid had turned into a stretch-five behemoth. I remember a game where he sank six 3-pointers and then casually posterized the opposing center. This season wasn’t just about numbers, though. Embiid showed leadership, resilience, and an uncanny ability to make those around him better.