Joel Embiid bullies the 3-point revolution

On Daryl Morey's team, analytics teach more than one lesson

BY TOM HABERSTROH

Las Vegas odds call Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid the favorite to win this year’s NBA MVP award. The 7-foot, 280-pounder is averaging 30.2 points and 11.6 points on the East’s best team, and he’s incredibly old school. Joel Embiid has ascended by tweaking his game away from what most of the league is doing. The 26-year-old is:

• Taking fewer 3-pointers than ever

• Firing up a career-high 5.8 mid-range jumpers, the third-most in the NBA

• Taking by far the most post-ups in the NBA

• Enjoying the most efficient season of his career

Simply put, Embiid is a throwback’s throwback. He’s the modern Hakeem Olajuwon, but bigger.