Joel Embiid's career is defined by greatness — and missed games

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid just reached a somewhat troubling milestone in his 10-year career. 

Embiid was ruled out of the 76ers' matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday due to a right oblique injury and has officially reached an even split: 485 regular-season games played and 485 missed. Is the former MVP center one of the biggest "what if" players in NBA history?

Peak greatness is interrupted by constant injuries

The former Kansas star was drafted third overall by Philadelphia in the 2014 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, Embiid missed his first two campaigns due to a right foot navicular bone fracture. Since then, Embiid has consistently struggled to stay on the court due to knee issues, concussions and staying in peak physical condition. 

However, when Embiid is healthy, it is hard not to mention him as one of the best players in the world. The 7-foot center earned the 2023 NBA MVP Award after having one of the most prolific NBA campaigns in history. Embiid averaged 33.1 points (league-high), 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks. In fact, Embiid became the first center since Shaquille O'Neal to have led the league in scoring that season. 

Embiid's greatness stems from his strong mid-range scoring ability, along with being able to handle the ball like a guard. Furthermore, he's effective at drawing fouls and is a premier rim protector who gives offensive players difficulty.

The 76ers star continued to play elite-level basketball the following season. Embiid was on pace to join Wilt Chamberlain (1963-64) as the only two players to average at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and five assists throughout an entire season. It seemed like Embiid was on his way to his second MVP, but he suffered a knee injury in January of that season. Since then, the seven-time All-Star has yet to return to that caliber of player. 

Is Joel Embiid one of the biggest "what if" players in league history?

If Embiid accomplishes nothing else in his career, there is no doubt he will go into the Hall of Fame. Embiid, being a savvy scorer at nearly 300 pounds and also performing at a high level defensively, is hard to ignore. 

Once upon a time, Embiid and Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic were viewed as two of the best centers in the NBA. NBA communities and sports media constantly debated who was the better player, but one thing separated the two superstars — availability. Since coming into the league in 2015, Jokic has played in an average of 72.5 games per season. 

Embiid's peak compares with many of the game's all-time greats, but a lack of durability and consistency may ultimately define what is otherwise shaping up to be a Hall of Fame career.