Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid had one of the more frustrating seasons in 2024-25 as he was limited to only 19 games due to a bothersome left knee injury. He averaged 23.8 points, but his efficiency was down as he shot only 44.4% from the floor and 29.9% from deep. Both numbers are the lowest of his career.
Therefore, he’s going to drop in the rankings. That’s just how it works. There are a lot of players in 2024-25 who took big steps forward–most notably Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton–and that means Embiid is not near the top anymore.
However, the drop in the recent rankings by The Ringer was certainly surprising to say the least. A drop was expected, but Embiid is now ranked as the 84th-best player in their top 100 players:
There’s a decent chance we’ve already seen Embiid’s peak. No player entered this season with more pressure. No player has been a more calamitous disappointment. Embiid has been betrayed by a body that can’t stay healthy and withstand the rigors of an NBA season; the Sixers didn’t win their first game with him on the court until December 8.
Before the Sixers finally shut him down for good in late February, Embiid sometimes looked like a mummified version of his former-MVP self, worried about suffering another injury, trying to conserve energy for the fourth quarter, or both. The next steps for Embiid’s knee have yet to be announced, but he acknowledged earlier this year that he will likely need another surgery and another lengthy recovery period.
Obviously, Embiid has dealt with a lot of injuries. His body has begun to show signs that he doesn’t have much left. However, if he were to return to anywhere close to the player who won MVP in 2023, then he is one of the best players in the game and can lift the Sixers back to contention. That’s a big “if”, but Philadelphia is banking its hopes on the big fella returning to his old form.