In recent times, the Philadelphia 76ers haven't had the luxury of Joel Embiid being available for back-to-back games. Fortunately for the Sixers, this is less of a problem this year, as the NBA has handed the franchise 13 such fixtures for the 2026-27 season -- three fewer than the previous campaign. For Embiid, this is an opportunity to build up some serious momentum heading into the postseason and finally discover a clean bill of health.
Philadelphia should theoretically have more time to utilize Embiid
Here we are: the annual discussions surrounding Joel Embiid's health have begun. As it stands, the Philadelphia 76ers should be set to unleash their star man at the first tip-off of the year against the New York Knicks on October 20. However, having Embiid at the start of the campaign doesn't mean much to 76ers fans, as his record with injuries is staggering and evidence suggests it probably won't last.
The good news for Philadelphia is that the NBA commissioner Adam Silver has thrown the franchise a tasty bone, reducing their number of back-to-backs for the year to 13 from last year's total of 16. In 2025, ESPN's NBA insider Chris Haynes stated he would be surprised if Embiid were allowed to feature in games on consecutive nights -- the Sixers could look to take a similar approach this year.
I count 13 back-to-backs on the Sixers’ 2026-27 regular-season schedule.
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) August 13, 2026
Last year, they had 16 back-to-backs, tied for the most in the NBA. They had 15 in 2024-25 and 11 in 2023-24.
Less intense scheduling only bodes well for the Sixers. If this roster is going to have teething problems, as many expect, they need as much time on the floor together as possible. If Embiid continues in a similar trend with injuries as the season's past, there is no way that this can happen.
Embiid can still be the difference in a championship run for the 76ers
A healthy Embiid changes the entire championship landscape for Philadelphia. Yes, the franchise's current roster boasts elite players on both sides of the ball and superstars with legitimate title-winning experience, such as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but on his day, Embiid is an unstoppable force.
Defensively, the 32-year-old now leaves a lot to be desired. His reduced mobility is a problem that the 76ers haven't managed to deal with in recent years. Nevertheless, with energetic defenders in the mould of Brown, Adem Bona, and Dean Wade, Philadelphia is much more prepared for Embiid's fragilities, meaning the star center can continue to prove he is one of the most dominant scorers the league has ever witnessed.
Far from his prime, Embiid showcased last season that he is still a force to be reckoned with when he has the ball in his hands. Defenders still have not formulated an effective solution to contain his physicality and often resort to fouling at a high volume.
During the 2025-26 season, Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game, while shooting 48.9% from the floor. If this is the devastation that Philadelphia's franchise cornerstone can cause 'on one leg', then the Eastern Conference should be trembling at the thought of what he can do when he nears full health.
The Philadelphia 76ers may never see this version of Joel Embiid again, but with fewer back-to-backs on the NBA schedule and more prominent options on the roster, they will never have a better chance of the star man hitting his former heights.
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