Video: Joel Embiid Says Heat's Jimmy Butler Is 'Probably the Best' Player in the NBA

Six years after their run together as teammates with the Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid still has a high opinion of Jimmy Butler's basketball talent.

After the Sixers' 106-89 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday, Embiid told reporters that Butler is "probably the best" player in the NBA right now.

Butler certainly looked close to being one of the best players in the NBA on Monday night in his first game back after an ankle injury sidelined him for the previous four games.

The six-time All-Star finished with 30 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 10 rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes. It was the first time since March 20 that Butler has scored at least 30 points in a game.

Embiid was also able to play in the game after being listed as doubtful earlier in the day due to an illness. He had his most efficient scoring game of the season, but it resulted in only 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting.

The former NBA MVP is clearly still trying to play his way back into game shape. He didn't attempt a free throw in a game for the first time since February 9, 2018.

Embiid and the Sixers had another frustrating game on Monday night. After taking a 19-point lead with 9:23 remaining in the second quarter, they were outscored 79-43 over the remainder of the game.

Paul George had another rough shooting night, scoring 18 points and making just one of seven attempts from three-point range. Rookie Jared McCain, who scored a team-high 20 points, is about the only thing going right for the Sixers at the moment.

All that's saving Philadelphia's season from teetering on the brink of disaster after just 13 games is the rest of the Eastern Conference. The team is off to a 2-11, tied with the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA.

Despite all of their issues thus far, the Sixers are only four games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 5 spot in the East right now.

Things will almost certainly get better when Tyrese Maxey returns from his hamstring injury and the 76ers can get their big three on the floor together for the first time all season.

They just have to hope it happens sooner than later so they don't keep losing more ground in the still-early playoff race.