Joel Embiid isn’t promising anything when it comes to his availability this season. Speaking with Kyle Neubeck, the 76ers star admitted his health will determine how much he plays, saying the plan is simply to listen to his body.
“I think going forward we’re just going to listen to the body,” said Embiid. “I’ll be honest and say it’s going to be unpredictable at times, and that’s okay. We’re going to work with that.”
Embiid is currently still in recovery from having arthroscopic knee surgery in April, and the 76ers have been secretive about a potential return date. For now, the plan is to take it one day at a time and ease Embiid into action only when he’s ready.
“We’ve got a plan in place, trying to check all of the boxes,” Embiid added. “This is still kind of a feel period where we’re just taking it day by day…there’s been a few court sessions, everything’s on schedule.”
Embiid, 31, is one of the best bigs in the NBA when healthy. As a seven-time All-Star, two-time scoring champ, and former MVP, Embiid’s dominance on the court is undeniable, but he’s been unable to sustain it when the Sixers need it most. In fact, Embiid’s extensive injury history has caused an abundance of caution with his body and durability.
Over the past two seasons, Embiid has played just 58 total games. Since his rookie season in 2014, the star big man has only played 60 or more matches in a season four times. He missed the first two full seasons of his career and has routinely missed playoff games despite a stacked roster.
The 2024-25 campaign was a low point for Embiid, and the challenges are expected to continue into next season. With no word yet on his possible return, the 76ers have no certainty on his future, and it has left them in a state of panic as they scramble to find an answer.
Embiid’s Return Remains A Mystery
With career averages of 27.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, a healthy Embiid could push the 76ers into contention, especially if Paul George and Tyrese Maxey live up to their standards. The key, of course, is Embiid’s success, and that will involve him learning how to play through the pain.
“Even the 76ers don’t know exactly when Joel Embiid is going to play, when he’s not going to be playing,” said Shams Charania. “Last season, nobody knew, and it created confusion throughout that organization. The knee injuries have been debilitating. He’s going to have to master learning how to play through issues, pain threshold on any given day.”
After finishing 13th in the East last season, the pressure is on this expensive, star-studded roster to deliver. With Embiid and George both in their 30s, time is running short to maximize their title window, and health will be everything.
In the end, the 76ers know their entire season rests on Joel Embiid’s availability, but even he admits it’s unpredictable, and that’s far from reassuring news for the fans. They know better than anyone that until Embiid proves he can stay on the floor, Philadelphia’s hopes of contending will always be fragile.
