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NBA Award Watch: Chris Paul is on a mission

By John Buhler

Nov 14, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) waits to enter the game 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) waits to enter the game 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

Though he has only played in seven of the Philadelphia 76ers first 10 games of the season, center Joel Embiid is the clear favorite to winner 2016-17 NBA Rookie of the Year. The guy is clearly light years better than the rest of this year’s rookie class.

Embiid is averaging 18.0 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, and 2.3 blocks per game despite being on a highly documented minutes restriction carefully managed by the Philadelphia front office.

The biggest question isn’t if will Embiid will win Rookie of the Year, but who will honestly end up challenging him for the award and be on the All-Rookie First Team with him? As of November 15th, arguably the second-best rookie in the NBA has to be Embiid’s Philadelphia teammate Dario Saric. The New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Buddy Hield is a distant third to Embiid and Saric.

Philadelphia is probably going to be the worst team in basketball this season. However, they are a must-watch whenever Embiid steps on the floor. Hopefully the Philadelphia brass will remove his minutes restriction so the NBA world can finally see all that Embiid has to offer on the hardwood.

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