Joel Embiid Embraced Playmaker Role Without Harden vs. Pacers

Joel Embiid flashed more than his scoring against the Pacers on Saturday.

Just a couple of hours before the Philadelphia 76ers tipped off against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, the Sixers ruled out their star guard, James Harden.

Although Harden hasn’t dealt with any foot-related setbacks since he missed a month’s worth of action earlier in the year, the Sixers have offered the ten-time All-Star a night off here and there.

Considering Saturday’s game was a back-to-back, it was one of those nights where Harden got some rest for the first time since March 7.

Without Harden on the floor, the Sixers miss their most prominent playmaker. However, the drop-off wasn’t steep on Saturday in Indiana, mainly because the big man Joel Embiid was on fire in all areas of the game.

Per usual, Embiid collected another 30-plus-point performance. But in addition to his scoring, the big man also dished out seven assists, just three fewer than Harden’s season average of 10.8.

Saturday’s game was the seventh time Embiid exceeded seven assists in one game this year. While it seems to be a rare occurrence when the big man flashes stellar playmaking as he did against the Pacers, Embiid made it clear that he could do that on a nightly basis, but because of Harden’s presence, there’s no need.

“I feel like, if I wanted to be a playmaker, I could be, but I don’t need to because I’ve got the best playmaker in the league,” Embiid said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Gina Mizell. “In the games that he doesn’t play, I take on that role, and it’s fun."

Saturday’s game was just another example of how deep and talented the Sixers are. Without Harden, both Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each produced seven assists. De’Anthony Melton produced five of his own, while Shake Milton created five assists off the bench.

There’s plenty of talent in the playmaking department for the Sixers, but as Embiid stated, that becomes one of the team’s best-kept secrets as playmaking duties are typically in Harden’s control as they should be. 

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.