Joel Embiid has an NBA Most Helpful Participant award and 5 All-NBA choices to his identify. What he doesn’t have is a wholesome run within the playoffs this decade.
The Philadelphia 76ers is anticipating a leaner, meaner Embiid in 2024-25 after the middle stated at Monday’s preseason media day that he has dropped 25 to 30 kilos this offseason and isn’t happy but.
“This yr is all about, there’s no agenda, there’s no All-Star, there’s no All-NBA,” Embiid stated. “There’s none of that. There’s no matter it takes to make it possible for I get to that time the place I’m able to go. As a result of principally each single yr in my profession I’ve been harm within the playoffs. So I believe that’s the objective. It’s all about doing no matter it takes to get there.”
Embiid, 30, performed in simply 39 video games within the 2023-24 common season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee. He was again in time for the playoffs however wasn’t 100 per cent because the 76ers dropped its first-round sequence in opposition to the New York Knicks.
He had an LCL sprain in 2023, a facial fracture and damaged thumb in 2022 and a meniscus tear in his proper knee in 2021.
Embiid, who was listed at 280 kilos on the finish of final season, sees a slimmer construct as a path to raised luck along with his well being.
“I’ve nonetheless obtained a methods to go,” Embiid stated. “Nonetheless need to lose extra, nevertheless it’s a course of. (President of basketball operations Daryl Morey) would let you know this: As quickly as we misplaced final yr, I texted him and I used to be like, ‘We’ve obtained to do no matter it takes to make it possible for, within the postseason, I’m wholesome.’”
Morey, for his half, coordinated the Sixers’ signing of star free agent ahead Paul George to affix Embiid and Tyrese Maxey within the franchise’s push towards a title. Philadelphia hasn’t gotten previous the second spherical of the Japanese Convention playoffs since 2001.
“We’re going to be actually sensible about this,” Morey stated of managing Embiid’s well being. “We’re centered on April, Might, June. It doesn’t imply that the workforce proper now isn’t essential as properly, however we’re going to be very sensible about how we handle him by the season. There’s going to be a whole lot of info as we find out about how every little thing’s working with your entire roster.
“However with Joel particularly … we even have fairly a couple of guys who we expect we have to (be) sensible about how we handle them by the season whereas nonetheless sustaining a excessive degree of play, and maintain the attention on the prize as we do this.”
Embiid averaged profession highs of 34.7 factors and 5.6 assists plus 11.0 rebounds per sport in restricted motion final yr. He’s lower than two years faraway from profitable MVP honours after he put up 33.1 factors, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks per sport in 2022-23.
Embiid has averaged 27.9 factors, 11.2 rebounds and three.6 assists in 433 video games (all begins) since Philadelphia drafted him third general in 2014.