Oct 8, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) leads a fast break against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Oct 8, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) leads a fast break against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia 76ers took some big strides this summer. After losing in the Eastern Semifinals, they made a series of moves to upgrade their roster, adding LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Anfernee Simons to join Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe. But if there’s anyone that will determine their success next season, it’s Joel Embiid.
Even with all the new additions, the Sixers are still reliant on Embiid to fill the center position, and not everyone is convinced that he’s up for the task. Given his long history of injuries and lack of success in the playoffs, doubts remain that he’ll be available when the stakes are highest. Nevertheless, all the internal reporting suggests that Embiid is ramping up to have one of his strongest seasons yet.
“We’ve talked to just about everybody on this roster and, to a man, they are raving about the way he looks, the way he is bringing positive energy day by day,” said Dave McMenamin on 97.5 Fanatic Philadelphia. “He’s been weighed down by his injuries in the past, but I think, right now, 76ers fans should be excited to see one of the most talented offensive big men this league has ever seen.”
Drafted third overall in 2014, we all know what Embiid can do when healthy. At his peak, the superstar big man averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game on 54.8% shooting from the field as the league MVP. His dominance under the rim is unmatched, and his defensive presence will be important in all major matchups.
The problem is that Embiid is rarely healthy for long, and it’s tough to trust his availability for the entire season. To date, Joel has only played 60 or more games in a single campaign four times in his career, with the last one being way back in the 2022-23 campaign. Over the three seasons since then, the star big man has played in just 96 out of 246 games.
Going into this season, there’s an understandable hesitation to believe that Embiid can stay healthy, but all the signs are pointing in a positive direction. All the testimony of those around him claims that he’s gotten better physically and mentally, to the point where it’s raising genuine excitement about what he may be able to provide.
Yesterday was our first glimpse of the big man in action this season, in a 114-108 loss to the Nets. He looked rusty on the floor, dropping just six points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block, and eight turnovers on 1/5 shooting in 24 minutes. It wasn’t a glamorous debut, but it did offer some hope that he’ll be able to shake off the rust before opening night.
Sadly, Embiid will not be in uniform against the Boston Celtics today, but there’s no need to compromise his good health for a meaningless preseason game. The plan, for now, is to ease him into action and carefully monitor his health as the season goes on. The good news is, he’s healthy going into it, meaning that they get to start on the right foot with this new-look roster.