Udonis Haslem has made his pick of the best center between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.
Both of these bigs have competed for the MVP trophy several times, with Joel Embiid ultimately beating out Nikola Jokic to win the award in 2023.
The seven-time All-Star played just 19 games last season and looked miles off his best due to injury problems.
There is no set date for his return yet, but the Philadelphia 76ers will be hoping whenever Embiid returns next, he will be back to his dominant best.
Embiid and Jokic reignited the importance of the big man position, with both putting up monstrous numbers consistently for their teams.
However, Haslem made his choice between the two, giving a valid explanation behind it.
The former Miami Heat star was past his prime when he played against Embiid.
His ability to dominate the paint and also make tough shots while also contributing on the defensive end is unique for a big.
Speaking about Embiid on the OG’s podcast, Haslem said: “I love what the Joker’s able to do, he’s unstoppable, it’s amazing.
“But I will love to see if Joel Embiid was 100% locked in and came in conditioned, came in focused, came in willing to sacrifice and do everything he needed to do, I’m inclined to feel like that’s the best big in the league, If he does those things.
“And that takes nothing away from what the Joker does, two things can be true.”
Injury problems have been with Embiid throughout his NBA career. Zach Lowe recently revealed what he felt about Embiid’s future in the league due to his injuries.
But Haslem believes if Embiid shows more commitment, he could excel further.
“Joker could be great and he is great, but I’m inclined to believe that a healthy, locked in, in shape, committed Joel Embiid is the best center in the league.
“That’s just what I believe and I want to see that. He’s cheating, cause I see visions of it, I see flares of it, but it ain’t enough,” the Heat legend added.
The 2023 MVP recently gave an interview with ESPN speaking on his career with the 76ers.
He opened up on his recovery plans and also stated about the locker room leak that happened last season.
| Season | Games Played | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
| 2024-25 | 19 | 23.8 | 8.2 | 0.9 |
| 2023-24 | 39 | 34.7 | 11 | 1.7 |
| 2022-23 | 66 | 33.1 | 10.1 | 1.7 |
| 2021-22 | 68 | 30.6 | 11.7 | 1.5 |
Embiid has played with multiple injuries, especially in his lower body. He went to the Olympics last year with a few minor injuries, and when he returned, his condition had worsened.
However, the 76ers cannot afford to move into their future with their star player always injured. He is 31 and soon may not have the ability to recover from injuries quickly.
While he completed his surgery, Embiid also needs to go through rehab properly in order to be back to full fitness. Philadelphia will need him for next season, but they cannot risk bringing Embiid back without completing recovery.
He is very important to the team alongside Paul George, who suffered an injury in the offseason, and if both of them do not recover properly, the 76ers could have another disastrous campaign.
Embiid is a force when available, but it has been a while since he has played fully fit. If he is able to stay fit and play like his usual self, the 76ers would be ecstatic as it would give them a massive boost next season.
