How Joel Embiid Developed Into an MVP Candidate | The Ringer

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann breaks down Joel Embiid’s basketball journey, from his time playing in a Basketball Without Borders camp to becoming one of the best centers in the NBA. He takes a look at how Embiid's game has evolved throughout his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, whether or not he and Ben Simmons can win a title together, and how he compares to other great international big men like Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan.
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[@milesforrest4532]

J. Kyleeee, always the best videos on the Ringer

[@ebrown112]

ditto. no doubt.

[@josephkin2450]

Arguably on KZbin for me. There isn’t another series on KZbin I will try to drop anything and try to watch

[@Jahordan380]

Straight facts

[@Owen-ld9xk]

By a mile

[@culbinator]

Totally agree

[@seanmclbball]

You’re right about embiid being lazy in his passes out of the post but a lot of these clips are from last year. He’s really improved in that aspect this year largely by of the spacing. As the chemistry gets better with this squad it’ll only get better.

[@thatguy6292]

Fr, I thought they did a disservice to his play in the double team, he’s been really good this year.

[@jimmypeterman44]

came here literally to comment the same thing

[@kylelyon8518]

Too true man disrespected embiid’s progress

[@aaronmiller903]

@@thatguy6292 cause this year if u double him you have a open seth curry

[@thatguy6292]

@@aaronmiller903 facts

[@jihming7270]

That Thinking basketball shoutout! Real recognize real.

[@briansshare]

It’s always a little disingenuous when people say Simmons and Embiid can’t work together on the floor. The +/- is really good, they both play insane defense, the shooting is there around them - there’s concerns but I hate the idea that it’s impossible to do

[@georgepolychronopoulos647]

Jim Geckon I mean everyone thought they’d get it done in 2017-18 when they finished the season on a 16 game win streak but they just got deomolished by the Celtics because they weren’t good enough. 2018-19 they had one of the most stacked teams of all time and lost in the 2nd round to a raptors team that had everyone underperforming except for kawhi in that series. I don’t have trust in embed as a leader or playoff performer

[@timmcbride8432]

@@georgepolychronopoulos647 lol you asking examples of when they were 20 and 22 years old FOH guy

[@TheMagnanimousMany]

It seems like a lot of people, especially writers on The Ringer, really don't want to see them stay together. Every bit of Sixers material always references that they're not a pixel perfect fit together. Asinine

[@shabazz360]

@@georgepolychronopoulos647 they were 21 and 23. If you actually thought they would “get it done” I don’t know what to tell you.

[@feedingstation6277]

@@timmcbride8432 What's even more bizarre about that hot take is that 17-18 was Ben's rookie season. Did Lebron or Shaq "get it done" in their rookie seasons? Also, consensus was that that Sixers team was going to be a bubble 8th seed. Pretty much no one thought they'd win a series, let alone expected them to beat a perennial playoff team like Boston.

[@93HonestAbe]

"....and Trey Young being on the floor..." 😂😂😂 shots fired 5:52

[@jackabah4279]

I paused and belted out a mean laugh when I heard that...his tone was so🤨😒

[@junebabyLV]

yes, J. Kyle Mann, i do agree. i always agree. every single time.

[@CodeineAbdulJabbar]

He can make any player sound like an all time great. His voice is also butter

[@yao8]

Imagine Beal + Embiid thooooooooooooo

[@chrisblashill7265]

Between Kyle's insightful commentary and the brilliant edits these guys put together, the Ringer has genuinely some of the best sports content out there, period.

[@willhooke]

These guys and Thinking Basketball are great 💯

[@davidadeyemi9466]

Remember when people were saying Simmons over Embiid in potential trades? 😂😂😅

[@Mody-qj9ci]

" Embiid is injury prone !! "

[@shabazz360]

I just didn’t get it 🤷🏽‍♂️.

[@wavybone1945]

Glad they don’t have to trade either of them

[@mentok3027]

People fall wayyyyy too in love with players like Simmons because of the transition highlights. Embiid is several tiers higher than Simmons as a player.

[@MasterAppels]

You can't dismiss his injury record

[@balckmac]

J. Kyle Mann is the only reason why I subbed to this channel. I wish he made more content or he was apart of more draft and basically discussions that are always posted on this channel.

[@jeremiahjohnson450]

He's on the ringer nba podcast about once a week. Just throwing that out there

[@balckmac]

@@jeremiahjohnson450 Which one of the ringers podcast? they have alot.

[@jeremiahjohnson450]

@@balckmac i know he comes on the ringer NBA University pod with KOC and Tjarks. I wanna say he's been on the mismatch pod with koc and Chris Vernon as a guest but I know for sure, 100%, he's a host on the ringer nba uni pod that usually airs every Wednesday. I like a lot of the ringer pods. The Raja Bell and Logan Murdoch NBA pod is usually pretty good too as well as the mismatch.

[@walterreed5849]

when you played that hakeem clip of him talking about playing other sports him and embiid have identical accents and voices

[@ajr8430]

Best content creator on the Ringer at it again!

[@themiseducationofjaymercad479]

Ahhhh J. Kylee Mann videos are too good 🔥

[@GregBennett]

I love these! I already know I love it before even watching it.

[@christianhall127]

More J. Kyle videos pleaseeee

[@trijws3]

6:05 isnt even Korkmaz. its dakota matthias. lol

[@amarhodzic6300]

That mistake describes the whole video.

[@pedroantunes3043]

Ok

[@raymondfeng1938]

it's time we talked embiid. omar: oh indeed bars

[@zionreid2537]

Self ally oop

[@jacksonjones2220]

The beats, the logic, the cadence, the allusions... nothing more satisfying or well produced on KZbin. Ringer, Bill: A. Well done (signing my man) and B. WE WANT MORE!

[@ubadman1]

Seriously how can one man's voice be this smooth????

[@tyneliushall3551]

Caap

[@marnixramondt5645]

I both watch J. Kyle and Thinking basketbal. For some reason i kept smiling like a kid when the metrics came in. Thankyou for making basketball more than a sport, you guys almost make it a science, an art.

[@Ethan-qk8fv]

J Kyles content is the reason I’m subbed to this channel, which is why I’m always late because I always miss it lol

[@pinchesalvaje]

These videos are masterful productions and consistently incisive. I tip my hat.

[@EmacMac-ph2zd]

It’s almost like a rap record. The way Kyle pulls and samples from different forms of entertainment for his videos. Gotta tip your hat

[@thedimedrop8153]

just checking in

[@joshuareynolds1545]

Love J Kyle Mann

[@kenasai6914]

Goated channel. J Kyle is the man

[@jon5one7]

Quality hoop breakdown. Good video for sure.

[@hamishmccluggage3139]

EMBIIIIID. Seriously how can you be that big and athletic and have such a soft delicate touch? Incred.

[@bencuzzy84]

Nice vid. Was enjoyable to watch.

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

2:17 That's some incredible touch, and with a ball that appears to be heavy

[@migueldejesus9234]

This is my morning ASMR before work. Thank you kindly, JKM.

[@vincentbyrd5350]

Finally emvpiid!! Has arrived welcome stay for a longtime

[@TIMMYGRANDE]

this was great, love this kinda stuff

[@dangelodrummond8315]

Masterpiece of a video 📽

[@philly_sports1558]

It will be crazy if Embiid does what Iverson did 20 years later. Win MVP in his fifth season and bring the Sixers to the Finals.

[@nalimlattarai2873]

Nets bucks

[@kaysheye7784]

@@nalimlattarai2873 pfttt Bucks will prosper once Budweiser leaves

[@raphielusain9755]

Do a video on terry rozier, I think he’s really slept on

[@JFP95]

Embiid and Simmons have the 3rd highest net rating out of all duos in the nba. Only Lebron & AD and Kawhi & PG are higher. Can we stop with the whole “they don’t fit together” narrative already?

[@lolololol-e7z]

they fit together best UNDER doc

[@JFP95]

@@lolololol-e7z and your point????? He’s the coach???

[@JFP95]

@@lolololol-e7z it’s not because of doc it’s because of the shooting around them. That’s why they had the hype early on. They had shooting. Then we got rid of all our shooting and ppl think they can’t play together anymore

[@t4d0W]

Lebron and AD won a chip together. Kawhi and PG were lookin like a buzz saw until the playoffs caught up to them. Neither their playoff opponents had legit answers to handle how teams used those guys respectively to get results (Lebron/AD PnR and AD essentially defending opposing teams explosive scorers on the perimeter. Kawhi/PG being the best two-way wings). So tell me how 'good' of a fit Embiid and Simmons are exactly. Like those two examples I mentioned or anything less? Because if its anything less then you REALLY don't know what the word 'fit' means in the context, you fucking bozo. btw JOkic/Murray when they click are an even better fit than Embiid/Simmons. May be lacking on defense but the offensive looks they get and can generate rivals that of even the two I made an example of who has gotten big time results at the high level.

[@eljefe9140]

In the playoffs its not very good

[@DaltonMcwha]

J.Kyle deserves a raise.

[@sebastianprice8760]

He's been unstoppable this year. There is nothing you can do with him 1-on-1 ANYWHERE on the court. It's beautiful to watch

[@desertedham37]

the best ringer series

[@sheli5483]

Keep polishing it bigman.

[@gasteeelsmf3235]

Great and entertaining video🔥🔥🔥🔥👍🏼

[@florenzjulian]

We need more J. Kyle Mann

[@LeviDavidSchaffer]

Curry and Green are so huge for that team.

[@cascade9584]

hey great video Mann

[@GaberInc]

Fantastic analysis as always! Still gotta think that the Process climaxed with Simmons, Redick, Harris, Butler and Embiid. As strong of a start as this season has been, it’s been a gradual decline since then.

[@BH-di1xy]

"they are gonna want to eat horse shit again" best quote

[@kaysheye7784]

I really like the music @ 5:30

[@simonphillips1087]

Crazy to come back to after the Sixers collapse

[@BradDanyluk]

It's funny that you shouted out Ben Taylor, because I've always found that you sound a ton like him

[@marmaalo]

how could I not like a video with an exquisite Will It Blend? reference

[@topfive_sports]

That clip at 6:48 has me weak 😂😂

[@alejandrovillegas5086]

These sorts of videos are better than the podcast setup, should do 1 for lamelo

[@jacobs2784]

3:14 🤯, so first he humiliated the defender, and then the destroyed his career. The closest thing it reminds me of is when Shaq two hand slammed on that guy and just shoved him to the ground coming down, in terms of just bullying a dude on the court.

[@mentok3027]

That would be Chris Dudley. At least he had a Yale degree to fall back on after Shaq destroyed him! Apparently they didn't teach FT shooting in the Ivy Leauge though. Dudley was one of the few players in the league that were worse than Shaq from the charity stripe.

[@Fromthelogo702]

Never disappoints

[@wavybone1945]

Didn’t spend enough time talking about how great Joel is at getting fouled

[@ethanmoore4280]

@JKyleMann in the ringer University pod you guys called Ja knife and then mentioned ninja quickly. Why not call him NIN-JA??

[@jakebrashear2964]

The Horford edit killed me 😂😂

[@sloanNYC]

Embiid just has to prove he can stay healthy and keep fit. Otherwise he's been pretty dominate. Though it is hard to say how often he disappears is mental vs physical.

[@beedebawng2556]

Love the music choice. 🎶

[@julian_frazer]

Simmons told you to include those few frames of CJ McCollum, didn't he?😂

[@mentok3027]

CJ for Simmons makes sense for both teams.

[@nalimlattarai2873]

@@mentok3027 no beal

[@briand8949]

I seriously can’t wait for the Jazz and 76ers to play!!

[@Garfonzo]

thats my guy J. Kyle Mann

[@JingleBerryz]

Nice cut of the jimmy butler clip to completely change the narrative in that episode lol

[@snsdforever9682]

"This series, I like it. " random guy who agrees: "I know, its great right." *Smashes Cup. ANOTHER!

[@bombeofam4670]

Do a video about mansour bahrami and do more ringer nba stuff like this cause its good content

[@lumptydumpty6992]

AYYY SHOUT OUT TO THINKING BASKETBALL!

[@flyersboy01]

Someone please list the per 36 min or per 100 possessions stats of Embiid Jokic and Lebron this season in the comments below. People always wanna point out per game like we’re still living in 2010. Adjusting stats to per 100 possessions or 36 min levels the playing field more because someone averaging 30 PPG on 30 min a night is more impressive than 31 PPG on 38 min a night. It gives a clearer picture

[@pedrodomingos7064]

Per 36 Lebron: 26.7 ppg - 8.3 ast - 8.3 reb - FG% 497/398/715 Per 36 Embiid: 32.7 ppg - 3.2 ast - 12.4 reb - FG% 547/377/855 Per 36 Jokic: 27.4 ppg - 8.4 ast - 11.4 reb - FG% 565/400/847

[@2FlyCaptain]

Funny thing his passing has greatly improved this year, Especially out of the double.

[@michaelacierno548]

At 6:00, that isn’t Korkmaz. It’s Dakota Mathias

[@JaeDooks]

Picking up Mic Drop was a great move

[@KobeMountainDew]

The Process, great nickname

[@robysuryatama6662]

We are getting closer for J.Kylman + Ben collaboration

[@Arvisgrt]

Well this turned out to be on point lol

[@n0eonn5r]

j Kyle mann, MY MAN!

[@geg6315]

Wow you called this exactly. Not to mention while we’ve lost Simmons, embiid has seriously made up for a nice chunk of it on defense. When he plays we are solid because he’s so dominant in the paint and how quick laterally he is. The rest of the team is solid defenders plus Matisse. But embiid elevates them all into a defense that can seriously spark some runs

[@chaserobinson9109]

Getting rid of Simmons for Beal isn’t as easy as people think. Simmons is just as good of a defender as Beal is a scorer. And Beal is just as bad of a defender as Simmons is on the Offensive side. People don’t understand just how DOMINANT Simmons really is on the defensive side

[@nasholston5112]

Also the facilitating. Ben hilariously is the key to our 3pt shooting. He penetrates and collapses the paint and is a terrific at finding shooters on the perimenter. The on/off shooting numbers without Simmons are night and day. If we trade Beal for Ben we need to find a PG and an elite defender to replace Ben. Or we wont win anything

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

0:38 😂😂😂😂😂 DAMN JOE

[@Ginga]

Embiid simply trusted the process... Imma head out.

[@nicolascruz9395]

That wasn't clever

[@jesusantoniosanchez5174]

Whoever decided to put in the Omar “oh indeed” cut, needs a promotion.

[@pkamvp]

Saved this for later

[@KaawSauce]

Daym that was good.

[@sdawg7632]

If you aint got no haters, you aint poppin 😎

[@amirawel4141]

God tier content

[@miles24yo]

“ Like pedestrians looking for a court settlement” I felt that

[@bigwills53]

TASTY VID KYLE

[@amrelarcher8990]

the fact that Embiid also played multiple of other sports before focusing on basketball is also very similar to Hakeem

[@balltalkdeep]

we just did a video on if Joel Embiid being an MVP candidate is forreal or not!

[@tg2112]

That vision & playmaking is why he’s the 2nd best center & Jokic is the best !!!!

[@rawsomeawesome8281]

If the Sixers managed to get an elite perimeter shot creator with Simmons and Embiid as frontcourt mates, the Sixers would be unstoppable

[@timszysteelz5907]

He has always been an M.V.P, he just need the right team to show it.

[@i.theworstguys298]

You either love him or hate him. And I happen to love this guy.

[@kaysheye7784]

I realised something - as much as I am a 76ers and Embiid fan, if he keeps missing games, he may hurt his MVP chances. Is this true?

[@solar_cpg8833]

Success in the playoffs is more important than any mvp award, a healthy embiid is the only way to win

[@t4d0W]

Depends on what MVP he's hunting for. Embiid may put a case for regular season MVP if his dominance is observed well via media narratives and enough to knock down stories of Lebron or Giannis keeping their teams elite in the regular season. For playoff MVP however that is a whole different story and Embiid def wont' cash in on that with how lackluster the Sixers are still.

[@kaysheye7784]

@@t4d0W yeah, I cannot wait for Morey to show his finesse with the anticipated trades by this deadline. As for MVP narratives, I can comfortably say I only have to worry about LeBron now as Bucks somewhat appear to be figuring things out themselves.

[@dariusbrooks21]

BIG JOJO!

[@ryanmontague3377]

When Embiid wins the MVP this year, come back and watch this video again. You'll thank me later

[@trvspvrk]

Lebron will win a pity MVP this year

[@samlawson6748]

@@trvspvrk sucks to know that even if Embiid averages 30 and 12 it may not be enough to get him MVP, Bron is winning it without a doubt

[@beedebawng2556]

@@samlawson6748 Why do you think "Bron is winning it without a doubt"?

[@Vanilla_Jo]

If the Nuggets can pull it together there is a thicc Serbian man who may have something to say about that.

[@GameChanger-xi4iy]

@@trvspvrk How can you win the mvp when you don't have the best record in your conference, have a top 5 player as your sidekick, 2 DPOY level defenders and not to mention 2 6-man of the year candidates on your team. Face it Lebron has a stacked team and his stats are decent but his defense is nowhere close to being as valuable as Jokic and definitely not Embiid.

[@alexjungeee7500]

This just shows you how hard it is to be a good big man.

[@cynfamau]

Anyone else think J.Kyle Mann and Ben Taylor were the same person? Only based on their analysis videos, their intonation and video style are very similar!! I honestly just thought Ben Taylor was moonlighting for the Ringer. ... Just me? Cool 😅

[@BabyCagefighter]

J Kyle Man I know that the Pistons suck we’ve only won 6 games but most of those are against the best teams in the league. We’re the most competitive tanking teams I’ve ever seen breakdown the suck

[@andresserbia5603]

"Driveway pick & roll" JAJAJA

[@rindrasi]

Sorry this is a tired argument, and a lot of rehashed videos from years past. Embiid has improved massively as a passer this year. He still has a few boneheaded plays, but by in large it is night and day from previous years. Also, the sixers are 14-0 with their starting lineup, and we see how they play when one of Embiid or Simmons sits. They need each other, and historically this team wins with both of them playing. Maybe next time try and create a video that doesn't bring up lazy media narratives. At the very least use videos only from this season as opposed to from his entire career. You try to bring it all together in the end by mentioning how Morey improved the roster, but failed to mention that Curry is having a historic year, Simmons is playing like a DPOY again (and Embiid to boot), minimizing the massive improvement of Tobias Harris (who is playing like an all-star and averaging the most points, the most efficiently in his career). You even contradict yourself when you mention Simmons/Embiid's fit, and then bring up a quote from more where he says that lineups with thousands of minutes in the NBA show that a lineup with Simmons and Embiid is the best or one of the best in the NBA. Then, you go ahead and say trade one of them. LOL! Do better Ringer...

[@rindrasi]

@UCCnRXZe-6muGI-FCsELUtAw if that was about his growth then it should have been written from a different angle. Too many of the things mentioned have been said ad-nauseam. Thr growth component of the video is minimal, with a lot of the footage about his mistakes. Much of the positive video clips are from past seasons and not this year.

[@rindrasi]

Props for replying and engaging in a conversation.

[@rindrasi]

@UCCnRXZe-6muGI-FCsELUtAw not sure why you removed my five thirty eight article though. Didn't realize new information couldn't be added to the discussion providing the whole picture.

[@kylemann2166]

@@rindrasi no i removed my comment because i dont feel like bickering with people lol. i interpreted it as a positive -- compared him to olajuwon and duncan for christ's sake. the coverages will ramp up and be different when the playoffs roll around, so the challenges will come. the tweaks have set him up to improve and he's playing great. will be watching as it unfolds.👌

[@rindrasi]

@@kylemann2166 aight. Knowing sixers fans, posting a controversial video will encourage responses from them.