Joel Embiid and Sixers finalizing supermax contract extension

Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty ImagesJoel Embiid is so inextricably tied to Philadelphia 76ers basketball that he took on the nickname representing the franchise’s rebuild. He has embraced the city of Philadelphia as much as any sports fan here could hope for, vacationing at the Jersey Shore, running and playing tennis or pickup hoops downtown, and forming an emotional bond with the fan base through his own brand of charismatic showmanship. Most importantly, Embiid has backed everything up on the court, fresh off an MVP runner-up season and playing extremely well through a meniscus injury in the playoffs. He has continually improved his game, whether it’s adding bags of tricks to attack one-on-one matchups, honing his outside shot, or boosting his conditioning.

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