Fansided

Why Joel Embiid should have made the 2017 NBA All-Star team

By Bryan Toporek

Jan 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) congratulates Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won the game 93-92. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) congratulates Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won the game 93-92. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Joel Embiid
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) laugh together after a play during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The All-Star Game is about fun

In making Embiid’s All-Star case, SB Nation’s Tom Ziller explained why the big man’s jubilance made him a perfect fit for the festivities:

"The NBA All-Star Game is pomp and spectacle. Paul Millsap is a wonderful player and fine human. He is completely pointless in the All-Star Game. Team defense, screening, post work — like, really? No one wants that in this context. They want HIGHLIGHTS. They want FUN. Embiid can give you highlights and oh can he give you fun, too."

Embiid isn’t just providing Sixers fans hope after a dreary three-year slog through rosters full of D-League players and guys on 10-day contracts. He’s tweeting, screaming and dancing his way into every Philadelphian’s heart, too.

Take the time he nearly choked out his own teammate out of excitement after second-year point guard T.J. McConnell hit a game-winner against the New York Knicks:

Embiid’s dancing that night was on point, too:

Or what about the time he channeled WWE Superstar Triple H during his intro

https://twitter.com/Sixers/status/820063722861305856

That’s not to mention his on-court highlights:

The All-Star Game was tailor-made for Embiid to fly his freak flag highest. Since defense is often optional until the final few minutes, no one would challenge the 7-footer as he soared to the rim to catch a lob from Kyle Lowry or John Wall. Given his stated desire to become a point guard by the end of his career, we could have seen him make his debut as a floor general, too.

Next: Embiid's minutes restrictions more logical than Strasburg's was

Without Embiid, the All-Star Game won’t be as fun as it otherwise could have been. Fret not, though—Embiid will be a fixture of these proceedings soon enough.

One bright side to his exclusion? The “help me date Rihanna” campaign lives on.

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