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NBA Award Watch: Another great week for the Greek Freak

By John Buhler

Nov 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) hangs onto the rim after dunking for a basket in the third quarter during the game against the Sacramento Kings at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks beat the Kings 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) hangs onto the rim after dunking for a basket in the third quarter during the game against the Sacramento Kings at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks beat the Kings 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts against the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts against the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid

Through November 8th, this is a unanimous selection. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is the best rookie in the NBA and it isn’t even close. Embiid is the only reason to watch the terrible basketball associated with the lowly 76ers. He’s borderline unbelievable.

Embiid is crushing his rookie competition so far. In 21.4 minutes per game, Embiid is averaging 17.6 PPG and 6.8 RPG, leading all 2016-17 rookies by a wide margin. He’s shooting at a tremendous .483/.667/.765 clip this season, leading all rookies with 13 blocks.

His PER is a ridiculous 24.3 for a guy playing roughly half a game each night. Embiid’s efficiency as a basketball player is further demonstrated with an effective field goal percentage of 54.3 percent. He even has 0.1 Win Shares for a club that hadn’t won a game in its first six contests. How is that possible?

One could argue that Embiid’s stiffest competition for Rookie of the Year would be teammate Dario Saric, but Saric doesn’t have the on-court dynamism or the nickname of The Process. It isn’t even mid-November yet, but Embiid may have locked up NBA Rookie of the Year in his first five NBA games. This guy has the potential to be an all-time great.

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