Joel Embiid
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Joel Embiid is heating up in Philly at the perfect time
Don’t look now, but Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid is finding his groove again.
Since New Year’s Day, Embiid is averaging 26.2 points, eight rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.5 minutes per game.
The oft-injured superstar is slowly beginning to look the part of a perennial All-Star, and Sixers fans are taking notice.
“I got tears in my eyes man. Don’t take this for granted.Joel Embiid defies the odds with injuries every single time,” an X user shared.
Embiid has missed 136 games due to injury over the last five seasons, but the former MVP appears to have caught his stride this season.
He is attacking the rim with aggression again. His pace is improving and, most importantly, Embiid is once again manipulating double teams and scoring at a high clip.
Adam Aaronson's clips
Joel Embiid draws two defenders and immediately kicks the ball out, and two decisive swing passes later Tyrese Maxey is crushing a closeout:
The Sixers star has been on a tear over his last ten games, averaging 28.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor.
“Joel Embiid has looked good all month,” former Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams said on Run It Back. “Those are the numbers of the old and the numbers of right now. He’s not a blast from the past no more.”
Alongside Tyrese Maxey, who leads all Eastern Conference players in points per game, the Sixers have a formidable duo brewing in Philadelphia.
“This is the dominating, aggressive, MVP Embiid we’ve seen before… 80% of Embiid is better than 90% of the bigs in the league,” FanDuel NBA analyst Chandler Parsons said.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey Are Among the League’s Best Duos
Joel Embiid
GettySixers star Joel Embiid is averaging 27+ points since Christmas
Behind the stellar play of Maxey and Embiid, the Sixers find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt.
The superstar pairing of Maxey and Embiid is among the best duos in the East, making Philly an interesting contender to win the conference.
Maxey, 25, has evolved into one of the premier guards in the league.
The former Kentucky standout is averaging 30.9 points,6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game while leading the league in minutes played.
The All-Star guard is also on pace to shatter the Sixers’ franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single season.
While Embiid hasn’t fully relinquished the throne yet, Maxey has looked the part of a franchise player.
“He’s an All-Star. He’s one of the young, promising players in this league,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said of Maxey in December 2025. “I’ve always said this about him — he’s always added something to his game.”
In the frontcourt, Embiid is back to his bruising, high-scoring ways for Philadelphia.
His motions are becoming more fluid, and the Gold Medal-winning center has begun dunking again — a welcome sight for Sixers fans.
Though he is still on a load management plan, Embiid has been a force for the Sixers this season.
The 7-foot Sixers star has the fourth-most 30-point games by a center this season. Only Nikola Jokic, Karl Anthony-Towns and Victor Wembenyama have more.
“I feel like I’m getting back to myself,” Embiid said in December.
Point Made Basketball
Joel Embiid is truly one of the most skilled big men of all time
Since Christmas, Embiid ranks in the Top 15 in points per game, according to StatMuse.
Should he regain his MVP form from a few seasons ago, the Sixers would be in a prime position to push for the Eastern Conference crown.