Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is close to officially joining elite company.
Embiid is around 11 games away from being eligible for the career points per game leaderboard.
Once Joel meets that threshold, he should slot in at seventh all-time with 26.71 points per game.
Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) is about 11 games away from being eligible for the career PPG leaderboard on @bball_ref — here's what it will look like once he's there… pic.twitter.com/cQQNTUv6HK
— Pete_Salveson (@SixersRANK) January 18, 2023
Right ahead of another 76ers legend in Allen Iverson and behind the NBA logo himself, Jerry West.
These are simply projections and will depend on Embiid’s upcoming stretch.
But being top 10 on the All-Time points per game leaderboard is incredibly impressive.
Embiid Is a Generational Scoring Talent
Ranking seventh on the all-time points-per-game scoring list is impressive enough.
But when you factor in minutes played per game, Embiid’s accomplishment is almost more impressive.
Among the entire top 10, Embiid and George Gervin are the only two players to not average at least 35 minutes per game.
Gervin averaged 33.6 minutes per game and Embiid is further below that at just 31.6 minutes per game.
Joel Embiid is currently averaging 33.6 PPG on 53.6% shooting, the second-highest PPG ever on at least that FG%.
Only Kareem-Abdul Jabbar (34.8 PPG, 57.4% FG%, 1971-72) has averaged a higher PPG on the same efficiency or better. pic.twitter.com/CtwO1lbRT8
— bryce (fire glenn rivers) (@ANDREWT0NEY) January 18, 2023
Using per-36-minute stats to account for this playing time discrepancy vaults Embiid to the top.
His 30.5 points per 36 minutes is a full two points clear of second place – Michael Jordan with 28.3.
Embiid can score with the best of them and requires little time to do so.
Future All-Time Scoring Milestones
Embiid appears to be squarely in his prime at 28 years old.
Assuming he continues his recent scoring dominance for at least another three years, Joel could crack the top three.
Elgin Baylor currently ranks third at 27.36 points per game, just over 0.6 points per game above Embiid’s current mark.
Embiid averaged 30.6 points per game across 68 contests last season.
He is besting that mark this year with 33.6 points per game across 33 contests this season.
Continuing on his current pace would put him right around the 28-point-per-game mark in four seasons.
Slotting him in at third behind all-time greats Michael Jordan (30.1) and Wilt Chamberlain (30.0).
