The coaches have spoken and Joel Embiid will not be an NBA All-Star reserve this season.
The final roster selections on Thursday went to Isaiah Thomas, John Wall, Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry, Paul George, Kemba Walker and Paul Millsap. Coaches selected two backcourt, three frontcourt and two wild-card positions.
Embiid earned consideration for his standout rookie campaign. He is averaging 19.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 25.3 minutes. His impact on the court is so significant the Sixers are 4-10 without him, two of those wins only coming this past week as they learn to better adjust to his absence.
His bid was stacked with challenges, though.
Embiid has played only a total of 758 minutes in 30 games this season, compared to 1,463 minutes and 43 games for Millsap, and 1,250 minutes and 39 games for Love. Embiid has been under a closely monitored minutes restriction, which has been increased to 28 per game, but many All-Stars are averaging well over 30. Embiid also does not play in both games of back-to-back sets for rest reasons, as decided by the Sixers.
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The Sixers were 8-24 through the end of December. Since then, they have improved to 17-27. Embiid is averaging 22.4 points, 9.4 boards and 2.6 blocks in eight games played this month. Still, the Sixers are 12th in the Eastern Conference.
There were only so many spots available for 450 players in the NBA. It can be difficult to bump out a previous All-Star. Of the Eastern Conference reserves, all seven have been selected in the past.
Embiid would have been a starter had the voting been left solely to the fans. He finished third in that category but ranked fifth among media votes and eighth by the players.
"It shows that the fans support me, that's why I'm not even mad," Embiid said after the starters were announced. "The fans are going stick up for who they love, and I love that."
Embiid's push was filled with entertaining moments along the way. From mystery crushes to Triple H endorsements to Shirley Temple campaigns, the enthusiasm behind it was All-Star caliber.
