As Embiid ups activity, a bright future comes into focus

It’s two hours before tip-off. Most of Joel Embiid’s teammates are in the locker room eating a pregame meal, checking text messages, and getting taped up, but the 20-year-old is already on the floor working.

The rookie center has yet to be cleared for practice, let alone game action, but his injured foot hasn’t kept him from developing his game. Left baseline, right elbow, free-throw line, bank shots, hooks with both hands… the natural touch he displayed as a freshman at Kansas is on full display during lengthy pregame workouts. Sometimes, he grows restless and decides to toss up a turnaround three or a shot from behind the backboard. Often times those go in as well.

The Cameroonian giant may not be able to help Sixers head coach Brett Brown now, but his progress is of key interest to the second-year head coach. And Brown has been there before. He spent all of last year helping big man Nerlens Noel navigate his first NBA season while rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn ACL. With Embiid, he’s utilized some of the same teaching methods he employed with Noel.

“As corralled as he feels like he is, and boxed in, we have to not let him go stir crazy, and [have him] do some things on the court,” Brown said of Embiid earlier this season. “He’s doing great. We’re really identifying multiple goals all over the place.”

Over the past several weeks, Embiid has been given the freedom to ramp up his activity. Hard pivots, dives to the rim, drop steps, one-legged fadeaways, even dunks… Those at the arena early on game days have taken to gathering around the baseline to get a closer look at the player they hope will one day help take the Sixers to the next level.

“He’ll have a number of benchmarks that he’ll have to meet, and if he meets them he’ll play. But if he doesn’t, well do what’s in the best interest of him for his long-term health,” said General Manager Sam Hinkie when asked about the health of the seven-footer last month. “I think it’s so key to really be focused on the sober reality of what it is you’re trying to do and our goals here are really high. Our goals are to build over time a championship caliber team that can compete year in and year out, and that doesn’t happen overnight.”

For a team that looks at things through a longer lens than most, Embiid’s trajectory is easy to get excited about.

A lifelong soccer and volleyball player, he only began playing basketball in 2011. In a short time, he went from struggling as an uncoordinated, lanky high schooler to earning comparisons to Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon during his lone season at Kansas. But even still, there is so much room for growth. The Sixers’ coaching staff has worked with Embiid all season to educate him on the intricacies of the game, and they’re also looking to instill in him healthy habits on and off the court.

“We have to be responsible and be smart,” Brown said earlier this season. “Physically, [we’re] trying to develop leadership skills in him, trying to teach him the NBA as it relates to his health. He’s really moving along. We’re trying to focus on his bodyweight to make sure his diet is what it needs to be, so there’s less pounding on his foot.”

With just 22 games remaining this season, it’s uncertain whether Sixers fans will get to see Embiid suit up before the team’s season finale against the Miami Heat on April 15. But like Nerlens Noel before him, the immensely talented big man will be ready to hit the ground running when he’s eventually cleared for action. And also like Noel, the Sixers expect Embiid to be worth the wait.