Joel Embiid Compared to Spurs Legend Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan is one of the greatest big men of all time, leading the San Antonio Spurs to the playoffs in all of his 19 seasons in the NBA.
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Joel Embiid certainly has the skills to be one of the best big men of all time, although injuries and general unreliability have hampered him since he joined the league, being magnified in recent seasons.
While Duncan was the definition of reliable throughout his career, he was not immune to injuries. Early in his career, his athleticism was sappped due to nagging knee injuries, forcing him to adopt his "boring" playstyle.
It didn't stop him from dominating.
Embiid, about to enter his ninth NBA season, has been urged to approach his recovery and play like Duncan did.
"If his knee were a hundred percent, he would have played in 75 games every single year and had multiple MVPs," said Richard Jefferson. "But, because he's managing a knee that he's had multiple surgeries on, like Tim Duncan, he had a surgery on his knee, and he always had to wear that knee brace. He had things that he had to manage."
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Embiid can no longer be the posterizing, fast-paced player he once was, but if he remains fluid and effective, like Duncan did, he could remain a top player in the world for the better part of a decade.
However, his track record suggests that he would rather sit than adapt, and the Philadelphia 76ers shouldn't be too optimistic about his chances of ever being MVP again.
Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
Related: Jeremy Sochan Delivers Verdict on Blockbuster Spurs Trade
Related: Dylan Harper's Early Impact on San Antonio Spurs Revealed
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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