For two consecutive offseasons, Joel Embiid's health has been an area of uncertainty for the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite undergoing an emergency appendectomy before the Sixers' playoff campaign began, it appears that Embiid has ended the season unharmed and should be able to attack the preseason with a clean bill of health -- which could increase the 76ers' level of ambition.
Finally, some positive Joel Embiid news
When it comes to Embiid, his talent is undeniable. His dominant skill set and intimidating aura have caused opponents an abundance of sleepless nights in the past. However, as everybody is well aware, his injury record has been nothing short of a disaster.
Over his career, the 32-year-old has been cursed with constant injury issues that have limited Philadelphia's ability to mount a serious challenge for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. In the last two seasons alone, Embiid has not been available for the first game of the NBA season -- both times because of problems related to a knee injury.
Thanks to arthroscopic knee surgery in April 2025, Embiid appears to have put the majority of these issues behind him. Yes, appearing in back-to-back games is still a question mark for the 2023 MVP as a precaution from aggravating said injuries, but as it stands, the Philadelphia 76ers are set to unleash their offensive talisman from the word go next year.
Naturally, when a franchise possesses the power to field a generational talent like Embiid, there is no room for mediocrity. If Philadelphia's superstar remains healthy, the only ambition that the 76ers will have is to win a championship -- and rightly so. Nevertheless, a team requires more than one player, and roster construction will be key.
76ers must still proceed with caution
Just because Joel Embiid's situation is currently positive, it does not mean the Sixers should throw all of their eggs in his basket; they must have a contingency plan in place. This does not mean Mike Gansey and the front office cannot acquire players who allow Embiid to thrive.
But they must also consider the growing stature of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe when planning their offseason business.
In seasons past, Daryl Morey's main priority was to construct a roster that mainly focused on giving Embiid the best chance of leading the franchise to a championship. Not that it should take a rocket scientist to figure this out, but when Embiid was struck down with his annual injury problem, the entire blueprint would fall to pieces like a jigsaw puzzle in the box.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, some of the acquisitions to make this idea a reality are of a similar identity. Two-way players who can make their presence felt defensively and on the boards will be vital for this team moving forward. While Jalen Brunson's recent championship success with the New York Knicks may have shown that smaller guards can be successful, relieving Maxey of his rebounding duties will only benefit the team.
Of course, this is the Philadelphia 76ers, and the likelihood of something going wrong before the season begins is incredibly high. However, fans of the franchise should enjoy the prospect of finally starting a campaign with Joel Embiid healthy. Is it going to last? Who knows. But for now, the Sixers are in a better place than they were one year ago and will already have a championship push on their minds.
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