38+33+32+30! He's back! The NBA's premier offensive big man

Philadelphia, positioned sixth in the Eastern Conference, fell short 109-112 against the East's third-place Knicks.

The Knicks' statistics are as follows:

Philadelphia's statistics are as follows:

The stats speak for themselves: Embiid scored 38 points with 11 boards and 5 assists, dominating the Knicks' frontcourt led by Towns, but unfortunately, it didn't lead to a win.

Embiid's recent form has been unstoppable, scoring over 30 points in four straight games with tallies of 33, 30, 32, and 38 points respectivelybringing back memories of his MVP season (2022-23).

Since his MVP year, Embiid's physical condition has sharply declined; from the 2023-24 season to now, he has played only 83 regular-season games due to recurring injuries, which naturally affect his performance and have caused doubts in recent years. However, the fact remains that as long as he stays healthy, he remains one of the league's elite big men.

So far this season, Embiid has appeared in 44 games for Philadelphia, playing 30.6 minutes per game, averaging 25.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks with a shooting percentage of 48.6%. He once averaged over 30 points per game for three consecutive seasons (2021-24), showcasing terrifying offensive firepower at his peak and winning the scoring title twice.

While Embiid has revived his game, George, who signed a four-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia in the summer of 2024, has essentially become an ordinary starter. This season, earning $51.67 million, he averages 15.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 41.5% overall and 36.4% from three, with a combined salary of about $110 million over the last two seasons.

George's performance isn't bad; at 35, he remains a strong two-way wing. The main criticism is that his current ability doesn't match his $50+ million annual salary—in plain terms, he is overpaid relative to his output.

Despite George not having major awards, he has been selected six times to All-NBA teams, four times to All-Defensive teams, and nine times as an All-Star. Remarkably, his career earnings have surpassed $500 million, placing him among the highest-paid players in NBA history and making him a definite financial success.

In the end, money talks, but what truly matters is the real cash in your pocket.