Joel Embiid inks a 3-year, $192.9 million contract extension with the Sixers
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne on Friday morning, superstar center Joel Embiid has agreed to a three-year, around $192.9 million contract extension with the organization that would last through the 2028–2029 campaign. There is a player option for Embiid's last season of his agreement, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
With his career earnings totaling $514.8 million, Embiid would join LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Paul George of the 76ers as the fifth member of the NBA's $500 million club.
“I started a Sixer and want to be right here for the rest of my career. I had no idea when I was drafted as a 20-year-old kid from Cameroon how lucky I was to be in Philadelphia,” Embiid said in a statement.
“Through all the ups and downs, this city and the fans have been everything, and I am so grateful for how they’ve embraced me. I want to thank Josh (Harris), David (Blitzer), and the entire organization. Philadelphia is home and it’s time to bring this community an NBA championship.”
Following his No. 3 overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, Embiid joined the 76ers. However, he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of action for a large portion of the previous campaign.
Embiid seemed noticeably more dominant at times last year and set a Sixers record with 70 points against the Spurs on January 22 after winning the NBA MVP award for the 2022–2023 season. In his debut campaign under head coach Nick Nurse, he averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.
Embiid has made the All-NBA squad five times in his career, been a member of the All-Star squad every year for the past seven, and won the NBA scoring championship in both 2021–2022 and 2022–2023.
Although he has never taken home an NBA title, he might have the best chance to do so the following season when he plays alongside Tyrese Maxey, the NBA's 2024 Most Improved Player, and George.
Embiid, a member of Team USA's men's basketball team that won a gold medal at the Olympics in Paris this summer, will begin his first training camp with George on October 1 in the Bahamas.
