Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse is feeling optimistic about the health of Joel Embiid, but stopped short of confirming the superstar center will be ready for training camp.
Speaking with reporters this week, Nurse said Embiid has been putting in the work behind the scenes and that everything he’s heard so far has been encouraging. While questions remain about his availability to start the season, the Sixers are clearly prioritizing long-term health over a rushed return.
“All the news is positive,” Nurse told ‘TalkSport.’ “I know he’s working very, very hard, and I think things look good. Whether he’s ready for training camp or not, I think there’s maybe a lot more decisions than that to make before we get there. But our main thing is that he’s healthy to play and play to his nearest capabilities.”
The last thing we heard about Embiid was anything but good news. The 2x scoring leader played just 19 games last season, and his stats were down across the board (from 34.7 points per game in 2023-24 to 23.8 points per game). That version of Embiid was hardly enough to lead the 76ers to contention, and their season was lost before February’s All-Star break.
Months later, the 76ers could only watch as their team sank to the bottom of the standings with a 24-58 record (13th in the weak Eastern Conference). It was a nightmare season for Philadelphia, especially considering their massive payroll that included max contracts to Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey.
So when Embiid’s knees began to flare up again, doubt was cast that he’d be ready for training camp. The 76ers were reportedly feeling massive regret about his extension, but they have no choice but to run it back next season after failed attempts to break up their veteran core.
While Embiid may still miss some time early on, the latest update is proof that he may not be done playing at an MVP level. If Nurse is speaking accurately, and Embiid’s health is improving, it could change everything about the 76ers’ situation and may even set them up for a high position in the standings.
With the Pacers and Celtics out of the picture (at least for the 2025-26 campaign), the East is wide open, and there’s a unique opportunity to fill the void. If Nurse can just get a healthy and complete roster, they may be able to challenge for Eastern Conference supremacy. Ultimately, only time will tell how it plays out, but everything for the Sixers revolves around No. 21 and the status of his knees.
For the 76ers, the path forward is painfully clear: no Joel Embiid, no shot. As their franchise cornerstone rehabs yet another knee injury, the team can only hope the worst is behind him. If Embiid can return to form, or even close to it, Philadelphia still has enough talent to make a deep playoff run.
But if his body breaks down again, the Sixers could be facing another lost season and a hard conversation about what comes next. For now, all they can do is trust the process and pray their MVP makes it back in one piece.
