The NBA regular season is about halfway finished and 12 former Jayhawks have appeared in games. This season for the past Kansas stars has had a wide variety of results, with players ranging from franchise cornerstones to those fighting for a rotation spot. While examining these players, it is important to start with one of the best players of the Bill Self era.
All stats are via Basketball Reference and Statmuse.
Former Kansas center Joel Embiid eases into the next stage of his career
In January of 2024, the reigning MVP Joel Embiid seemed to be cruising toward becoming the 14th player in NBA history to win the award consecutively.
Embiid was riding high while leading the league in scoring and having the best year of his career playmaking by averaging over five assists per game for the first time.
Embiid’s dominance was halted after a meniscus tear in a February game against the Golden State Warriors. He returned in April that season to prepare for the postseason but was hobbled.
Embiid had an up-and-down year that postseason, which was highlighted by a 50-point game against the Knicks in the first round. Embiid and his 76ers went on to be eliminated in six games.
Despite still being injured entering the offseason, Embiid played for Team USA in the Paris Olympics, coming home a gold medalist. He returned to the NBA for the 2024-2025 season still not healthy. He raised eyebrows right before the season by saying “I may never play in a back-to-back again.” This was a plan crafted by Embiid and the 76ers front office to help preserve the often-injured center for a postseason run.
The 2024-2025 season was nothing short of a disaster for Embiid and the Sixers. Embiid was often injured and had disappointing levels of play when healthy.
Embiid posted career lows in games played, field goal percentage and defensive rating. He was shut down for the season at the end of February. His career seemed in jeopardy despite only being 30 years old. The track record for centers with extensive injury history is grim. Despite this, Embiid was determined to return.
The start of this season seemed bleak for “The Process.” He played in just seven games through the month of November with averages well below his career averages. But mid-December, a switch flipped. On Dec. 12, in a game against the Indiana Pacers, Embiid scored 39 points with nine rebounds in a win.
Since this game, the former KU great has played his best basketball in two calendar years. In the month of January, Embiid has played nearly as many games as he did the previous three months combined while averaging 29.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 4.6 APG.
Embiid has rejuvenated a career with an incredibly bleak outlook. Despite still being a step slower than he used to be, Embiid is still one of the most offensively gifted big men in NBA history, able to get to his spots and score in isolation at will. At the time of publication, Embiid has scored 30 or more points in eight of his last 10 games.
Embiid, All-Star Tyrese Maxey, Rookie of the Year candidate V.J. Edgecombe, and fellow Jayhawks Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes have Philadelphia as the current six seed in the Eastern Conference. With their franchise star playing this well, the Sixers could make a push for a finals appearance.