Joel Embiid’s resume is one of the most unique in NBA history. At 7-feet tall and nearly 300 pounds, he plays with the dominance of a traditional big man but has the skill set of a guard.
As of 2025, his career achievements place him firmly in the conversation as one of the greatest centers ever.
The Numbers That Define Embiid
- 27.7 PPG: Embiid currently holds the 4th highest career scoring average in NBA history, trailing only legends like Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor. No other center has combined such efficiency and volume this consistently.
- 11.0 RPG: On the boards, Embiid is a force of nature. His combination of strength, positioning, and timing makes him one of the league’s premier rebounders.
- 1.6 BPG: Embiid’s defensive presence anchors every team he’s on, deterring drives and protecting the rim at an elite level.
Accolades Speak Volumes
- 1x MVP
- 7x All-Star
- 5x All-NBA
- 3x All-Defense
- 2x Scoring Champion (a feat almost unheard of for a center in the modern NBA)
On top of that, he is the only player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block per game across his career. That blend of dominance and consistency separates Joel Embiid from nearly every other big man before him.
Efficiency King
Even more remarkable is that Embiid is the all-time leader in points per minute. Not Wilt, not Kareem, not Shaq — Joel Embiid. This stat cements him as not just a great scorer, but one of the most efficient offensive players in basketball history.
Where Does He Rank?
When we look at the pantheon of centers — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Russell, David Robinson, Moses Malone — Embiid is knocking on the door. He hasn’t yet matched the longevity or championship pedigree of those names, but strictly from a dominance-per-minute and statistical peak standpoint, Embiid already has an argument as a top-10 center all time.
If he can add a championship to his resume, he may very well crack the top-5 conversation. For now, he stands as one of the most unique and dominant centers the league has ever seen.
Final Word
Joel Embiid’s career is still being written. But whether you view him as a top-5, top-7, or top-10 all-time center, one thing is undeniable: he has changed the way we think about big men in the modern NBA.
