The schedule for the 2025-26 NBA season sees five teams in a challenging spot, as they are tied for the most back-to-back games. With 16 such games on the agenda, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Phoenix Suns, the Denver Nuggets, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Washington Wizards will have to make significant adjustments to cope with such pressure.
While most of the teams won’t face additional challenges associated with these fixtures, the 76ers may face greater challenges. With fans taking note of the schedule, several speculated that the league may have put 76ers superstar Joel Embiid under a lot of pressure.
Embiid’s health has been a concern for Philadelphia for the better part of the big man’s career. When considering the frustrations arising from his absence, it is likely that the team would not be satisfied with the current schedule.
In light of this, fans on social media shared some hilarious reactions to the situation. Let’s take a look at some of the funnier ones shared on X.
“Joel Embiid’s knees next season,” said one fan, while sharing a video of tender meat falling off the bone.
“Feels like they did it on purpose tbh,” claimed another, speculating that the league was targeting the star big man.
“Knees gonna be looking like Kenny Smith’s,” joked another fan.
“Embiid might not survive the first month,” added a concerned fan.
One user acknowledged the situation and simply said, “Lots of rest for Embiid and PG then.”
Meanwhile, another claimed, “Yeah, their season is cooked.”
“So we know for sure that Embiid will miss at least 8 of these games with George probably missing the other game,” stated one user, rationally breaking down the 76ers’ potential strategy.
While another user joked, “LMFAO ANOTHER YEAR MISSING THE PLAYOFFS PHILLY.”
“16 games Embiid will miss,” acknowledged one fan.
While another user added, “Embiid is going to retire.”
The circumstances certainly aren’t in Philadelphia’s favor. While head coach Nick Nurse has provided a positive update on Embiid’s recovery, the outlook for the team doesn’t appear to be too favorable.
There is a likelihood that the 76ers superstar will return to action next season, maybe even at an MVP level. At the current juncture, however, he is still expected to miss some time early on.
In addition to this, concerns still remain regarding Paul George‘s recovery. The star forward had undergone an arthroscopic procedure on his knee.
The general timeline for full recovery from such procedures spans a few months, potentially seeing him sidelined to start the season. At the current juncture, George is only expected to be re-evaluated ahead of training camp.
Even in a limited capacity, Embiid is still one of Philadelphia’s best players. Last season, the superstar only appeared in 19 games for the team. During this period, he recorded an average of 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
When considering how vulnerable Embiid has been after returning from injury, the 76ers would be wise not to rush things. Still, Philadelphia may not have the luxury to be as patient either.
