Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers agree on rookie maximum contract extension

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid and the 76ers on Monday agreed to a five-year, $148 million contract extension -- the maximum permitted by the NBA's rookie wage scale.

The extension could be worth as much as $178 million if Embiid meets certain criteria -- making all-NBA teams, for instance, during the length of his rookie deal.

Embiid has played in only 31 games in three seasons since Philadelphia made him the third pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. In those games, all played last season, Embiid averaged 20.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

He last played on Jan. 27, subsequently undergoing surgery to repair a torn left meniscus.

Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said, "(Embiid alters games with) his physical presence; he does it with a defensive mindset, and he does it with an offensive target that is different than anything else that we have.

"When he has been able to practice with us, he has changed the gym."

Teammate Jahlil Okafor told the Philadelphia Daily News, "He deserves it. I'm really happy for him. It wasn't a surprise to me. You've seen how great of a player he was, and he's an even better person, so he deserves that. I'm just happy that it's finally official."

Philadelphia forward Robert Covington told the Daily News, "With him healthy, this team can be very special."

ESPN reported the 76ers would receive salary-cap protection if Embiid sustains a significant injury.