Embiid ramping up, Yabusele impresses, more reports from first day of training camp

The Sixers are in the Bahamas for training camp. Here are a few reports from folks on the scene for Day 1.

With a quiet media day behind them, the 2024-25 Sixers took the court for the start of training camp in the Bahamas Tuesday afternoon.

It’s head coach Nick Nurse’s second camp with the team, but there are several new pieces on the roster. Let’s look at a few of the reports from on the ground.

Embiid ramping up

A day after Daryl Morey was clear about his message for delivering a healthy Joel Embiid to the postseason, Nurse revealed that there is a ramp-up period for the star big man.

It appears that Embiid and the team are on the same page when it comes to the strategy this season. In the video above, Nurse indicates that Embiid did everything live short of scrimmaging. Considering the busy summer Embiid had, including playing for Team USA in the Olympics, it makes sense for the team to take things slow.

Kyle Neubeck of PHLY reports that veterans Kyle Lowry, 38, and Eric Gordon, 35, were also held out of scrimmaging Tuesday. For a team with bigger aspirations, the approach is appropriate.

“We’re going to be really smart about this,” Morey said at media day. “We’re focused on April, May, June. It doesn’t mean that the team right now isn’t important as well, but we’re going to be very smart about how we manage him through the season. There’s going to be a lot of information as we learn about how everything’s working with the entire roster. But with Joel specifically … we actually have quite a few guys who we think we need to be smart about how we manage them through the season while still maintaining a high level of play, and keep the eye on the prize as we do that.”

The read here is there are no new issues or concerns. It’s simply about doing every possible to ensure Embiid has as healthy a season as possible.

Yabusele impresses

After the Sixers’ big free agency moves, many looked at the roster and felt there was a need for a true four. Nurse agreed, saying at media day he saw that as a hole French forward Guerschon Yabusele can fill.

Yabusele was one of the players Nurse recognized on Day 1 of camp.

Yabusele has a real chance to earn a role here. Listening to Nurse talk at media day, it sounds like he would love for Yabusele to step up and take a role. It makes sense. For all of the talk about Nurse’s schematic prowess, he’s a head coach who frequently references toughness and physicality as things he values. Yabusele has both in spades.

The swing skill, as it is for most of the guys fighting for roles, will be his jumper. Can he make threes and help space the floor for Embiid? Yabusele believes he can.

“With the importance of Joel Embiid on the team and his aggression in the paint, he’s going to draw a lot of double teams,” Yabusele said on media day. “When he kicks out the ball, I need to be able to knock those threes down and work on my shot — and be able to make plays, too. So I think the three-point shot will help me a lot this season.”

Of all the storylines during camp, where Yabusele lands in the rotation is amongst the most intriguing.

Big Penguin threes?

Andre Drummond knows why he’s here. The Sixers got their butts kicked by the Knicks on the glass and whenever Embiid was on the bench in the playoffs. Drummond, who proclaimed himself to be “the best rebounder to ever play the game” Monday, should help remedy both issues.

There is some concern that the Sixers might not have a stretch big option.

Or maybe they do.

Well, that’s an interesting development. Who knows if Drummond will actually attempt any in a game, but it seems clear it’s a skill he’s worked on.

We did learn during Drummond’s first stint here that he’s an underrated passer. Nurse believes there’s more to Drummond’s game than just dominating the boards.

“Listen, I think he’s a really talented dude,” Nurse said on media day. “I think there’s more than seeing him as a 10 defensive rebound (per) game guy. I think there’s more he can do.”