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Best Interior Defender: Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid’s NBA debut after a two-year absence due to a fractured navicular bone in his right foot, which required multiple surgeries, has saved us from the most uninspiring rookie of the year race in recent memory.
With his playing time limited in deference to health, Embiid has packed remarkable production into 25 minutes per game. Per 36 minutes, he’s averaging 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks. Of all the rookies in NBA history, only another Philadelphia center, Wilt Chamberlain, scored more prolifically per minute, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
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Beyond Embiid’s offensive contributions, he also has the top defensive rating in ESPN’s real plus-minus (plus-1.4 RPM per 100 possessions) among rookies. With Embiid on the court, Philadelphia has allowed just 101.1 points per 100 possessions, which would lead the league, according to NBA.com/Stats.
