This is when the frustration of setback after setback pays off. When the deep sighs of missing 164 games in a row morphs into a fist pump of accomplishment. When the literal pain from the foot problems that seemingly would never heal and the figurative pain from only being able to stand still gives way to numbers so gratifying that even Joel Embiid has to admit missing two seasons in a row helped him.

Not that he wanted it to happen this way, a 2014 Draft pick rookie in 2016 who had to prove he could be healthy before proving he could be good. But the truth is undeniable since it did: Embiid has been an instant 3-point threat as a 7-foot center/power forward who was never considered a stretch anything because of the unwanted time off.

“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “I don’t think I would be as good as if I would have played my first year. I don’t think I was going to shoot the ball from 3 at all. But those (two) years really helped me a lot, especially for my shot.”

Embiid couldn’t play five-on-five, not even with his own 76ers teammates who would surely keep a safe distance rather than risk another injury to a foundation of the franchise. So he did a lot of drills. There were a lot of times he couldn’t even run, or so much as walk without a boot, so he remained stationary. And shot.

The next thing anyone knows, the same player who took five 3-pointers as a Kansas one-and-done in 2013-14, making one, is not the same player. Still gifted with enviable instincts for someone with relatively little experience even before college, yes, still with the look of potential greatness if only he could stay healthy, but the Embiid of 2016-17 is at 40.3 percent behind the arc.

As if the start to his pro career wasn’t already impressive enough, Embiid's 25 makes in 62 attempts in 21 appearances is good enough for the fourth-best showing among newcomers, while still being force-fed games off as part of the recovery.

Embiid would be the clear favorite for Kia Rookie of the Year anyway. Expanding his game like this just makes the possibilities in the seasons ahead seem that much more limitless.

To the ranking:

1. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Last week: No. 1

He just became the sixth player since 1983-84 to reach 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.40 blocks through the first 20 appearances -- and the other five are Hall of Famers: Shaquille O’Neal (the last, in 1992-93), Dikembe Mutombo, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. Every predecessor did it with at least 658 minutes. Embiid got there in 489. Plus, his six games with 25 points or more are the most for a rookie after 21 games since Blake Griffin also reached the plateau six times in 2010-11.