The Philadelphia 76ers adding a pair of superstars in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown now have them pegged as one of the definitive favorites to win the title next season, but their championship hopes are still pinned on the condition of Joel Embiid. Fortunately for the team, it appears that the former Most Valuable Player has already taken the first step to helping his squad commence its championship run by being in much better shape.
The team recently released some pictures of players doing some workouts in its practice facility, and people were quick to note how noticeably slimmer Embiid is compared to before. While there is no official confirmation yet, it seems that he might've lost considerable weight, which should help him stay on the court better and prevent injuries.
Joel Embiid appears to be in much better shape for the 76ers ahead of the 2026-27 season
Despite the 76ers touting one of the most talented and formidable lineups the league has seen in recent years, Embiid remains the linchpin to their success next season, which is basically a title-or-bust campaign for them. As such, his availability is one of the biggest storylines to watch out for, as it could very well determine just how far this team can go.
Sure, James and Brown might be perceived as being enough to get this team over the hump, but Embiid gives the 76ers a unique advantage over nearly every ball club in the league. Despite his nagging injuries, he was able to prove last season that he is still an immovable force down low with his unguardable one-on-one scoring and reliable defense in the paint.
Philly will undoubtedly remain conservative when it comes to deploying Embiid, which is perfectly fine and probably even more warranted given that team's revamped core. But with him finally getting a full summer where he is only working out and not rehabbing from surgery, the 76ers could very well see him grace the hardwood with more frequency than planned and expected.
Joel Embiid is still arguably the best player the 76ers have assuming that everyone is at full capacity. With how much star power the team has, that speaks volumes as to how tremendous his impact is as a ceiling-raiser. As such, being in much better shape is undoubtedly the first step toward the team making its championship run. Hopefully, this development ends up paying dividends in the upcoming season.
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