Judging from the current performance, it is difficult for Embiid to surpass Iverson s historical position in the Sixers.

On June 29, in the Philadelphia 76ers' history scroll, Allen Iverson's name is always engraved with the most dazzling gold. This legendary guard, who is only 1.83 meters tall, uses his fearless fighting spirit and lone heroic spirit to carry a team at a low point on his shoulders, leading them to the 2001 NBA Finals, creating a miracle that belongs to a small player. By contrast, Joel Embiid, the modern center who is highly anticipated, has repeatedly shown disappointing weakness in key battles, despite its enviable talent and skills. Judging from his current performance, it is almost impossible for Embiid to surpass Iverson's historical status in the Sixers.

Iverson's greatness is not only reflected in the data, but also in his never-saying spirit. In the 2000-2001 season, he averaged 31.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game, winning three honors: regular season MVP, All-Star MVP and scoring champion. In the playoffs, he defeated one strong enemy after another with injuries alone. In the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals, facing the Bucks with Ray Allen, Glen Robinson and Sam Cassel, Iverson scored 44 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, and sent the 76ers into the finals with his own strength. Facing the "OK combination" at that time, he scored 48 points in the first game at Staples Center, giving the Lakers the only playoff loss that year. This fighting spirit that explodes in desperate situations is exactly the quality that Embiid lacks the most.

In contrast, Embiid, the Cameroonian center does have historical talent. He is proficient in various low-post techniques, his shooting range is far beyond the three-point line, and he is also the best blocker on the defensive end. In the 2022-2023 season, he won the regular season MVP with an average of 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, and even surpassed Iverson at his peak in data. But the problem is that Embiid's glory seems to exist only in the regular season. Whenever the playoffs come, the seven-foot-long man will magically "shrink". In the 2023 Eastern Conference semi-finals, he made only 5 of 18 shots in the tiebreak, scored 15 points and 8 rebounds, and did not even dare to catch the ball and attack in the last moment. This weak performance of this critical battle has become the norm in his career. The gap in spiritual attributes is the most essential difference between the two stars. Iverson was not tall enough, but he never feared any opponent. He averaged 41.1 minutes per game in his career, fought with injuries many times, and had more than 30 injuries all over his body. Embiid frequently missed due to minor injuries and has not played a full season yet. What is even more disappointing is that Embiid is often addicted to fake falls and complaining about referees on the court, rather than speaking with strength like Iverson. When the team needs him to come forward, he often chooses to jump shots from the outside instead of hitting the basket like a traditional center. This kind of evasion of confrontation is easily restricted under high-intensity defense in the playoffs.

Judging from the shaping of the team's culture, Iverson's influence is far beyond Embiid's. "Answer "Although the times failed to bring a championship for Philadelphia, his attitude of "taking every game as the last game" redefined the team's DNA. Even after he left for many years, the 76ers fans will still be moved by his spirit of struggle. The 76ers under Embiid's leadership always give people the feeling of a "pseudo-strong team" - the regular season is full of glory and the playoffs is revealed. To make matters worse, the rumors of his feud with stars such as Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler exposed his flaws as a leader.

Of course, we must also see the differences in the context of the times. Iverson lived in the late 1990s to the early 2000s, the NBA emphasized physical confrontation and personal heroism, which just magnified his advantages. Embiid faces modern basketball that emphasizes space, three-pointers and load management, and the rules and environment are not very friendly to traditional centers like him. But the problem is that in the small ball era, international insiders such as Jokic and Antetokounmpo can continue to output in the playoffs, which makes Embiid's weakness even more difficult to defend.

Judging from the team's achievements, Iverson led the 76ers to a record of 56 wins and 26 losses in 2001, and reached the finals all the way. The best result of Embiid's era was only the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and it collapsed many times in the tiebreak. Considering that the 76ers have been playing badly for many years to collect high-ranking draft picks (that is, the famous "Believe in Process" plan), such returns are obviously unsatisfactory.

Data may lie, but the championship flag will not. Iverson's greatness lies not only in his achievements in leading the 76ers, but also in his reigniting the passion of this basketball city. When his classic moment of crossing Tyron Lue at the 2001 All-Star Game happened, he represented not only himself, but also all the underrated small players. Embiid has left Philadelphia with only the disappointment in the playoffs and the infamy of "soft eggs".

Authentic, Embiid still has time to prove himself. He is only 30 years old and is still in his peak theory. But if he cannot change his weak performance at critical moments and cannot lead the 76ers to at least reach the finals, then his position in team history will never be able to reach Iverson's height. After all, basketball is not just a game of data, but also a contest of willpower. On this level, Embiid still has a long way to go from the "Answer".

Philadelphia fans are harsh, but they also understand the ball. They can forgive the players' technical shortcomings, but they will never tolerate mental weakness. The reason why Iverson became the totem of this city is because he perfectly interprets the "Philadelphia Spirit" - tenacity, tenacity, and never admit defeat. If Embiid wants to truly win the hearts of fans, he must prove on the playoff stage that he deserves this 76ers jersey. Otherwise, no matter how many personal honors he receives, in the historical evaluation of Philadelphia, he can only be the "process" under the shadow of Iverson, not the answer.