Sixers preseason profile: Joel Embiid

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The Sixers continued their roster overhaul during the offseason. Over the next three weeks leading up to training camp, we will get to know the team's new players. Today, we look at Joel Embiid.

Joel Embiid
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 7-0, 250
NBA experience: Rookie
Last team: Kansas

Joel Embiid's basketball resume is relatively brief at this stage of his career. The 20-year-old first picked up a basketball at the age of 15. He admits having little skill and being clumsy, but five years later he became the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft.

The Cameroon native came to America and attended two Florida high schools before choosing to attend Kansas.

In one year with the Jayhawks, Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks a game. Unfortunately for the young center, his lone college season had an unfulfilling end when Embiid was forced to miss the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments because of a stress fracture in his lower back.

Shortly before the NBA draft, Embiid required foot surgery to fix a fractured navicular bone in his right foot. Embiid had the procedure and his recovery time is expected to be 4-6 months. However, the Sixers have demonstrated extreme caution with players' rehabilitation in the recent past.

It would not be a surprise if Embiid stays sidelined for the entire season.

Fitting in with the Sixers
Whenever Embiid takes the court, the franchise is betting on him turning into a low-post talent that comes along once in a blue moon. Embiid's skills have been compared to Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon. Those are lofty expectations for Embiid to live up to.

If Embiid comes anywhere near Olajuwon's numbers, the Sixers will be ecstatic. As a rookie Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game.

Since 2000, two Sixers centers have averaged a double-double in points and rebounds. Dikembe Mutombo did it twice, averaging 11.7 points and 12.4 rebounds in 2001 after being traded to the Sixers at the deadline and the following season with 11.5 points and 10.8 rebounds.

Samuel Dalembert averaged 10.5 points and 10.4 rebounds during the 2007-08 season.

Dating back further, Moses Malone set a higher standard manning the middle for the Sixers. He averaged at least 20 points and 11 rebounds a night during four consecutive seasons from 1982-1986.

Tidbits
When Embiid first started playing basketball he watched a video of great NBA big men, including Olajuwon, Tim Duncan and Patrick Ewing.

The play of Olajuwon, particularly, stuck with him.

In a July conversation, Embiid said he had spoken to Olajuwon by phone but hopes to work with the NBA legend in the future (see story).

"I'm not going to lie, last time I talked to him it was the first time," Embiid said. "Because he's my idol, I was just excited to be on the phone with him. I was on the phone saying, "Yeah, yeah" just laughing.

"I don't remember much of the conversation except one thing -- stay humble. That's what he said."

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