Embiid wants to participate in every All-Star event next year, except 1
Joel Embiid wants to take over All-Star weekend ... next year.
The Philadelphia 76ers big man was selected to suit up in the Rising Stars challenge and skills competition this weekend, but can't participate in either due to a knee injury that's sidelined him since late January. The ailment hasn't stopped him from going to New Orleans and taking in the festivities, though.
Embiid told ESPN's Marc Stein on Friday his goal at the 2018 All-Star weekend in Los Angeles is to take part in every event, with the exception of the dunk contest.
"Rising Stars, Skills, 3-Point, and the big game," the center said.
Why no dunk contest?
"I don't have that kind of bounce," he replied, perhaps forgetting about his ability to sky for slams like this:
Embiid puts up 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.1 steals in just 25.4 minutes per game for the Sixers, and makes them significantly better at both ends of the floor.
The 22-year-old should be given a chance to try his hand at the skills challenge next year, and since he's by far and away the best rookie in the 2016 class, he figures to earn a Rising Stars nod as a sophomore.
After shooting 50 percent from long range earlier this season, his percentage has dipped to a more realistic 36.7. It's within the realm of possibility he'll receive an invitation to the 3-point contest, but he'll likely need to attempt (and hit) more than the 98 total he has in 2016-17 to qualify.
As for the big game, Embiid campaigned hard for All-Star fan votes, and garnered enough of them to start. He didn't do as well in player and media voting, however, and thus missed the cut.
If he keeps up what he's been doing, there will be plenty of opportunities for him to be an All-Star, and thereby win over his celebrity crush. And if he is about to compete in four of the five events in L.A., it'll be the most for a player since Damian Lillard partook in the Rising Stars game, skills comp, 3-point shootout, dunk contest, and ASG in 2014.