Whether you like him or loathe him, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has endured a torrid time with player injuries throughout his tenure with the franchise. Joel Embiid's fitness issues have limited his availability for the coach. Nevertheless, fortunes may be changing, as the Sixers' superstar could be set to feature in his third consecutive game for the first time since December 2023.
When arriving in Philadelphia, Nurse was expecting to unleash Embiid upon the league after his 2023 MVP campaign; however, fate had other plans. The 31-year-old's previous campaign was nothing short of sensational. Embiid averaged 33.1 points per game, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks as he was awarded the greatest individual award a player can receive during their career.
Most importantly, he featured 66 times for Philadelphia -- something that Nick Nurse has rarely witnessed during his three years at the helm of the 76ers. Since the 2022-23 season concluded, Embiid has only been on the court on 73 occasions. No matter what the coach's ability, being without a star that your team has been built around is only going to end in disaster.
Now, Embiid is showing that he can be available for selection consistently and perform at a devastating level.
Embiid is available and ready to dominate
Both Nick Nurse and the Philadelphia fan base have come to terms with the reality of Embiid's situation. There is no physical way for the elite center to take his spot on the court every night, and his workload will be managed. But for this team to have any chance at success, he must be in the rotation for a high percentage of games.
For the first time since December 10, 2023, in a matchup against the Detroit Pistons, Embiid could potentially feature in three consecutive games for the franchise. Currently, Embiid is listed as probable on the Sixers' injury report for their next fixture against the New York Knicks, with his right ankle sprain no longer being listed.
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game @ New York:
Joel Embiid – right knee injury management – PROBABLE
Kelly Oubre Jr. – left knee sprain – OUT
Trendon Watford – left adductor strain – OUT
Embiid’s right ankle sprain no longer listed.
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) January 2, 2026
Optimism will be high in the City of Philadelphia, as not only is their star player's need for load management decreasing, but his level of performance and mobility are increasing in tandem with this. Embiid is averaging 28 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists over the last two games -- in which the Sixers chalked up two victories after defeating the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies on the road.
By partnering Joel with players such as Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona, Embiid can allow his younger counterparts to shoulder a high volume of his defensive duties, reducing the chance of him aggravating the knee problems that have plagued him over recent campaigns.
One thing is for sure: Nick Nurse will be delighted that he finally has the opportunity to focus his offensive gameplan around a superstar who would have been an overwhelming reason as to why he originally took the head coaching job in Philadelphia. How long this magnificent dream lasts is a question for another day.