Trust The Process: Joel Embiid’s top five plays this season

Joel Embiid has established himself as a franchise cornerstone during his rookie season in Philadelphia. 76ers fans are trusting The Process, and it’s easy to see why.

The Philadelphia 76ers under GM Sam Hinkie were taught to “trust the process” as they went through multiple losing seasons. They accumulated as many draft picks and assets as possible over a multi-year rebuilding process — aiming to take a generational star with one of their many high draft picks no matter how the roster was currently constructed.

Joel Embiid has taken third overall in the 2014 draft by the 76ers and has came to personify The Process. He sat his first two seasons as he healed a broken foot and Philadelphia finished in the bottom of the NBA. Coming into his rookie season, no one knew quite what to expect of the 22-year-old Cameroonian. But now midway through his rookie season, 76ers fans are reaping the benefits of The Process.

Philadelphia has been slow with Embiid, as he is yet to play without a minutes restriction. But despite only playing 25.3 minutes per game so far, he is averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 2 assists nightly. His rookie shooting percentages of 46.1% from the floor and 34.5% from three are encouraging. His per 36 minute numbers show what he can be when hypothetically unrestricted: averages of 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks are extremely impressive for a rookie.

Joel Embiid has been impressive enough to put forth a serious All-Star campaign. The 76ers have one of the brightest futures in the league, and his emergence is one of the biggest reasons why. He’s made spectacular plays that show what he is capable of becoming for Philadelphia.

Here are five of the finest plays The Process has made thus far this season:

5. Just totally unfair

Fellow rookie Dario Saric knows what type of athlete Joel Embiid is. He has no problem letting a long outlet pass loose to him in transition. Embiid comes down with the ball over Michael Beasley, gathers in one dribble, and throws down from 12 feet out. Only a handful of players in the league could do this, and its questionable how many other centers could, if any.

This play came from the 76ers 113-104 win in Milwaukee last night. Embiid finished with over 20 points in 28 minutes for his ninth consecutive game. More importantly, the 76ers are now 5-2 in 2017, including 5-1 with Embiid. Even though T.J. McConnell has a better win percentage as a starter than Kyrie Irving, the big man deserves most of the credit for wins in Philadelphia lately. The 76ers won’t be finishing at the bottom of the league this year, the The Process is the biggest reason why.