For the past seven seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers have repeatedly failed to progress past the second round of the playoffs, raising questions about whether Joel Embiid and the franchise are an ideal pairing. As the 2023 MVP has been burdened to carry the team without a reliable supporting cast through most of his tenure, it led many to believe that if things do not fall according to plan in the 2024-25 campaign, this could be the end of their partnership.
However, the Sixers buried such speculations by awarding JoJo with a three-year, $193 million extension on Friday night. While some question the decision to offer such a substantial contract to a player who has yet to deliver in the playoffs and is injury-prone, Stephen A. Smith strongly believes that the seven-time All-Star is worth ‘every penny.’
Stephen A. Smith on Embiid’s $193 million extension
The talented center’s injury history has been one of the primary reasons why the 76ers have struggled to reach the promised land despite being one of the best-performing teams in the Eastern Conference in recent years. So, while critics may be disappointed to see the franchise hand more resources to the 7-foot center without him having to lead them to the championship round, it is important to consider his impressive stats.
In 422 games for the 76ers, Joel has averaged 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. He already ranks first in franchise history for points per game and seventh in points total (12,071), including eight 50-point performances…