The Philadelphia 76ers definitely had an offseason for the ages, and their training camp is also going smoothly right now. While the injury bug hit them early in the preseason, Joel Embiid is one player who is looking healthier this time around. In fact, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne recently reported that based on what she has heard, the superstar big man's weight is down to what it was during his freshman campaign –– a good development with the team desperate for better availability from him.
All summer long, there were numerous reports about Embiid turning in a cleaner bill of health that allowed him to laser in on the basketball side, which is a fresh change compared to recent years when he was preoccupied with offseason procedures and the attendant rehab. Embiid scaling down his weight is another big step, as he and the team hope that he can be out there for the squad more.
The 76ers just got a major Joel Embiid boost for their title chase
Embiid was listed at 270 pounds when the 76ers released their training camp roster, which is actually similar to what he weighed last year. In his freshman year, he clocked in at 250 pounds, so there is technically some discrepancy there if we were to go with Shelburne's estimation.
But to her credit, the 2023 Most Valuable Player definitely looked noticeably slimmer in photos and clips from scrimmages the team held this summer. That was also apparent in his Media Day photoshoot, where fans pointed out just how slimmer Embiid looks compared to last season.
Now, being lighter is in no way a surefire marker for better health and, in turn, availability. But for someone like Embiid, who plays primarily in the post and has to bang bodies with other big men, that will play to his benefit, as it lessens the strain on his knees and lower extremities, which are his vulnerable points.
Nick Nurse also recently bared his plan to have Embiid be a more mobile actor on the offensive end, so the All-Star's slimmer frame will bode well for that. Further, one area where he got more assailable last year was on defense. The Knicks in particular put him in every action possible, and his waning agility doomed him. Hopefully, his lighter weight can help him be a better stopper when latched onto perimeter players.
There are many more pros than cons on the hardwood when one's weight decreases. For Joel Embiid, the benefits are further augmented, especially in view of his issues when it comes to being available for the 76ers. The team is gunning for the championship, so this development is very much a welcome one. After all, this group will still go as far as where the superstar center can take them.
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