NBA: Favorites For Rookie Of The Year After Ben Simmons Injury

2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Position: Center
Age: 22 (3/16/1994)
Drafted: Round 1, Pick 3 (2014)
2015-16 Slash Line: N/A
2015-16 Season Averages: N/A

If Joel Embiid hadn’t spent the past two seasons on the sidelines, no one would oppose his placement on this list. The fact that he’s two years removed from competitive basketball is an understandable reason to be concerned, however, and that’s why he’s not No. 1.

The reality is: none of these players have taken the court for a regular season game in the NBA, which puts Embiid on a relatively even playing field.

Embiid would be No. 1 if the past two years hadn’t transpired, but he’s likely to show some signs of rust—a troubling truth considering he’ll likely show signs of inexperience, as well. Once he sheds the skin of inexperience, however, there aren’t two healthy rookies with more upside than he.

His ranking of No. 3 could be too high or too low, but this is all a matter of how quickly Embiid finds his niche—and his niche could be dominance on both ends.

For those who forgot, Embiid measured at 7’0″ and 240 pounds with a 7’5″ wingspan at the 2013 Hoop Summit—and he’s only gotten bigger. He’s flashed 3-point range during practices and was already a force along the offensive and defensive interiors.

Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 offensive boards, 1.4 assists, 2.6 blocks, and 0.9 steal in 23.1 minutes during the 2013-14 college basketball season.

On a per 40-minute basis, those numbers come out to 19.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 4.0 offensive boards, 2.3 assists, 4.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals.

Embiid has the potential to restore the dominance of interior-based big men.