With a strong supporting cast in place, Joel Embiid needs to make sustained health the No. 1 top priority for the Sixers to achieve their goals.
It has been a busy summer for Joel Embiid. The Philadelphia 76ers star center won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Paris. He globetrotted as something of an ambassador for Africa in further developing the sport and economic interests in general there. Embiid also signed a three-year, $192.9 million contract extension to remain with the Sixers through the 2028-29 season. He might even have another kid on the way if we’re to believe Masai Ujiri’s recent conversational slip-up. So yeah, busy summer.
But one place Joel shouldn’t be as busy as past years is the 2024-25 NBA regular season. In fact, it’s imperative for the Sixers to achieve their goals that he take a step back. With Tyrese Maxey’s continued ascension, Paul George’s arrival, and a well-rounded supporting cast put together by Daryl Morey, this is arguably the best roster Embiid has gotten to play with during his NBA career. It’s probably between this team and the group that came within four bounces of beating the eventual champion Toronto Raptors in 2019.
As a result, Joel shouldn’t have to shoulder as heavy a burden as previous seasons. Last year’s postseason was already the beginning of the transition to Tyrese Maxey as the 1a option in crunch time. George will assume plenty of playmaking duties. We should see even more of Embiid around the nail and top of the key. Aside from isolated situations, Joel taking a beating down in the post should be largely a thing of the past, which I’m sure will anger Shaq on Inside the NBA, but will make sense to any Sixers fan who has seen Embiid’s body break down over the years.
Because, as usual with Joel, it all comes down to his health, specifically, making sure he’s as healthy as anyone else come postseason time. No one will care if the Sixers secure a 1 or 2 seed during the regular season if it results in another second-round flame-out because Embiid is hobbling around at 60 percent strength.
With that in mind, no more back-to-backs for Joel. Seriously, not a one. The Sixers have enough talent that the supporting cast and Andre Drummond grabbing 18 rebounds in 35 minutes should be enough to keep them competitive on nights Embiid sits. No rushing back from any minor bumps or bruises. Take another game off to ensure a few more days of rest and 100 percent health. It’s laudable that Joel wants to be out there on the court with his teammates, but such urges need to be put aside. If Embiid plays more than 65 games, I’ll honestly consider the regular season a failure.
The Sixers have lofty goals for this season, and rightfully so. Boston is the rightful favorite to repeat as champions, but behind the Celtics, things are wide open. New York added Mikal Bridges, but has major questions at the center position with Mitchell Robinson injured and Isaiah Hartenstein leaving in free agency. The jury is still out on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard gelling, and the Bucks’ depth is nothing to write home about. Teams like Cleveland, Orlando, and Indiana don’t appear to have enough top-end talent and/or experience to make a serious run this year.
The path is there for the Sixers to finally reach the promised land, also known as the Eastern Conference Finals. And if they get there with a reasonably healthy Joel Embiid, I’ll take my chances on achieving further glory. In the meantime, scoring titles shouldn’t even be a thought. Let others take the wheel, focus on being a defensive anchor, and above all else, stay healthy. Embiid can’t control freak things like a teammate’s elbow cracking him in the face, but there is plenty he can control, and now’s the time. To take a step forward, Joel needs to take a step back.