Joel Embiid has signed a contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Friday in his post on X (formerly Twitter). Following the news of Embiid’s contract extension, an NBA analyst mentioned that the 2023 NBA MVP deserves every penny of his max contract extension.
According to Charania, Joel Embiid will sign a three-year, $193 million maximum extension with the 76ers, with a player option in 2028-2029. During a recent episode of First Take, hosts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe joined Molly Qerim to discuss the 76ers’ deal with the Cameroonian-American basketball player.
“He [Embiid] deserves every penny. He is a bona fide superstar in this league whose only derailment is health. I watched this man average 35 [33 points] against the Knicks on one leg, on one leg, he is that gifted,” Smith said.
Smith commended the Sixers’ star for his outstanding performance in the 2024 playoffs series against the New York Knicks. Despite injuries, Embiid delivered an exceptional performance, scoring a playoff career-high 50 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the 76ers’ Game 3 victory against the Knicks. This truly demonstrated his dedication to the game.
Smith Hails Embiid As The Most Gifted Big Man
During the last NBA season, Embiid, who won the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, faced several health issues. The Cameroonian-American basketball player suffered from Bell’s Palsy, a neurological disorder that affects half of the face, during the 2024 playoffs series against the Knicks. In addition, Embiid also experienced migraines and blurred vision.
Despite these challenges, Embiid managed to finish the playoffs with an average of a career-high 33.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and a career-high 5.7 assists. Due to his potential, Smith believes that the 76ers star is one of the most talented players in the league.
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“You can literally put Joel Embiid in the argument on talent, one of the most gifted big men to ever play the game of basketball on the planet Earth. I’m happy for him, he deserved this money.” Smith added.
The next season will start soon, and Embiid will play in the first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the upcoming NBA season.
