Joel Embiid Continues to Leave Patrick Beverley in Awe

Sixers guard blown away by play of reigning MVP

As the quarter mark of the season passes, the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in good shape. Currently, they sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 16-7. A major catalyst in their success thus far has been the dominant play of Joel Embiid. 

Fresh off winning MVP, Embiid looks like a frontrunner for the award again in 2024. Along with leading the league in scoring (33.4 PPG), he is also dishing out a career-high 6.4 assists per game. 

In his most recent outings, Embiid notched 34 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in 29 minutes of action against the Washington Wizards. Against the Detroit Pistons, he posted 41 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. Following the blowout victory versus Washington earlier this week, Sixers veteran Patrick Beverley touched on how the All-Star center is nothing like anyone he's ever played with before. 

"He different, that big fella he different that's all. He's in a category of his own. Respectfully to everyone else out there," Beverley said Monday. "He's dominant, he knowns how to play the game the right way, he knows how to get to the free-throw line. He knows when opponents are scared of him, he's just dominant." 

Words like this are high praise coming from someone like Beverley. Throughout his 11-year career, he's had the opportunity to play alongside some all-time greats. Some of the notable names being James Harden in Houston and LeBron James with the LA Lakers. For Beverley to go out of his way to talk about Embiid like this is a testament to the transcendent talent he's become. 

Through the first 20-plus games of the season, it's hard to argue with what Beverley is saying. With his improved playmaking this season, Embiid has truly turned himself into an all-around talent. He is the main hub of what the Sixers do on both ends of the floor, and it continues to be a success. Given that his numbers have increased from last year, the Sixers star is on pace to find himself on the MVP ballot once again.