Talk is cheap when it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers. These days, it's hard to trust the team because history says that offseason excitement rarely ever travels to the playoffs. A lot of that has to do with the team's inability to stay healthy.
Unfortunately, the team's top player, Joel Embiid, has been bitten by the injury bug far more than anybody over the years. Still, the Sixers want to keep the positive vibes rolling this offseason. The President of Basketball Operations, Mike Gansey, delivered an update on the big man just under two months away from the start of training camp.
What's the latest on Joel Embiid?
In an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Wednesday, Gansey told the station that Embiid is very healthy at the moment.
"This is one of the first offseasons he is healthy going into it," he said, via 97.5 The Fanatic's X account. "He is healthy; there are no restrictions. he has already been in the gym... his body looks good... he is in a great space... he is excited, he is motivated."
It's difficult not to be motivated if you're a Sixer this offseason. The team hit a new high by defeating the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs after trailing 1-3. Then, they crashed back down to earth after getting swept by the New York Knicks.
Gansey came in to replace Daryl Morey and brought an entirely different aggression to the table with his roster-building. The Sixers swapped out Paul George for Jaylen Brown. Weeks later, they lured in LeBron James on a two-year, minimum deal.
Embiid being surgery-free this summer is just more icing on the cake. The last time Embiid entered a season without offseason surgery in play, he was lights out. His 39-game run during the 2023-2024 NBA season was clearly MVP-caliber. The veteran center led the NBA in scoring with 34.7 points per game. He averaged a double-double with 11.0 rebounds. That was his last All-Star campaign before a knee injury affected him over the next year.
Obviously, the hope is that he can return to form with more rest, no setbacks, and an increase in help with the team's newest additions on the roster. The Sixers have every right to be excited on the Embiid front heading into the new hoops year. Here's to hoping that they finally got it right after plenty of pain and suffering.
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