Joel Embiid blames the NBA’s new Wilson basketball for his early-season shooting struggles
“The ball is different. I’m still not totally [feeling] comfortable with it,” Embiid said of his struggles. The Sixers star also noted that he was the best midrange shooter in the NBA last season.
Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers gets fouled by the Bulls' Nikola Vucevic during a game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
DETROIT — Joel Embiid joked that he’s always looking for an excuse.
But it’s obvious something is amiss with the Sixers center’s shooting. It’s also a fact that NBA players are struggling to adapt to the new Wilson basketball after decades of playing with Spalding.
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“The ball is different. I’m still not totally [feeling] comfortable with it,” Embiid said of his recent shooting struggles. “It’s a process. But every single day, I work hard. I make those shots at practice.”
The four-time All-Star is shooting a career-low 41.2% through this season, including only making 32.1% of his three-point attempts.
“Last year, I was probably the best midrange [jump shooter] in the league,” Embiid said. “So at some point, it’s going to come back. I’m not worried about it.”
He’s shooting 36.4% from 3 to 10 feet away from the basket, 40.5% from 10 to 16 feet, and 37.5% from 16 to the three-point line. For reference, last season Embiid shot 46.6% from 3 to 10, 46.3% from 10 to 16, and 49.3% from 16 to the three-point line.
The NBA ended its relationship with Spalding before the start of this season, and shooting has declined across the league.
“Not to make an excuse or anything, but I said that about the ball, it’s just a different basketball,” Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George told the media Monday night. “It doesn’t have the same touch or softness that the Spalding ball had. You’ll see this year, it’s going to be a lot of bad misses. I think you’ve seen a lot of airballs so far this season.
“So again, not to put an excuse or blame the basketball, but it is different. It’s no secret, it’s a different basketball.”
Furk the fourth-quarter scorer
Furkan Korkmaz (wrist) was a later scratch against the Detroit Pistons.
But Korkmaz is doing his real work in the fourth quarter. He has scored the league’s third-most fourth-quarter points this season with 51. Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan leads the league with 62 points, while Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet is second at 54.
Korkmaz ranked 11th in fourth-quarter scoring average at 6.4. Indiana Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon, who’s only played in five games, leads the league with 8.4 points. Korkmaz and DeRozan, who sits at second with 7.8 points, are the only players in the Top 11 who have played in at least eight games as of Wednesday.
The Sixers have gotten off to a historic start from the three-point line this season. They have hit double-digit three-pointers in nine straight games to begin the season. Before this year, the Sixers’ record was two straight games, which came at the start of the 2017-18 season.
Sixers and Villanova great Wali Jones rang the Liberty Bell replica before the game against the Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021. The court featured a logo of the former arena, The Spectrum, and the Sixers wore new uniforms in tribute to the Spectrum teams.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Head Coach Doc Rivers, center, of the Sixers greets Sixer great and current Assistant Coach of the Bulls, Mo Cheeks, before the game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021. Billy Donovan, Coach of the Bulls, is left.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers strips the ball away from Javonte Green, #24, of the Bulls as he went up for a shot during the 1st half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers gets fouled by Nikola Vućević of the Bulls during the 2nd half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Javonte Green, center, of the Bulls dives for a loose ball after knocking it away from Joel Embiid, background right, during the 1st half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021. Seth Curry is right.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyreese Maxey, right, of the Sixers shoots over Ayo Dosunmu of the Bulls during the 2nd half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, right, of the Sixers goes up for a basket around DeMar DeRozan of the Bulls during the 1st half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers reacts after scoring and drawing a foul on DeMar DeRozan of the Bulls during 4th quarter of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Matisse Thybulle, right, of the Sixers strips the ball away from Zach LaVine of the Bulls during the 1st half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Georges Niang, center, of the Sixers celebrates after hitting a shot against the Bulls during the 1st half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Seth Curry, right, of the Sixers drives to the basket against Zach LaVine of the Bulls during the 2nd half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Seth Curry, right, of the Sixers hits a clutch shot over Alex Caruso of the Bulls late of the 4th quarter of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Seth Curry, right, of the Sixers is congratulated by Georges Niang after hitting a clutch shot late in the game against the Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, #21, of the Sixers goes up to block a shot by DeMar DeRozan of the Bulls in the final minute of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, center, of the Sixers signals to Coach Doc Rovers to challenge the foul called on a block of DeMar DeRozan's shot during the final minute of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
DeMar DeRozan of the Bulls watches a replay of his shot being blocked by Joel Embiid late in the final minute of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers and DeMar DeRozan of the Bulls share a moment after the foul call of Embiid was challenged and overturned late in the 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 3, 2021. It was ruled Emiid's block was not a foul.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
As the Sixers beat reporter, I provide daily coverage, perspective, a social media presence and long-form takeout pieces about one of the NBA's young emerging teams.
