Even after putting together arguably the best offseason in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers can't get too comfortable. They filled in the major gaps that were on the roster after getting swept in round two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, but they will inevitably enter the new season with a familiar question looming: Is Joel Embiid healthy?
A recent piece from ESPN, which goes into detail about the Sixers' quest to land LeBron James, revealed a direct quote from Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey regarding Embiid's health. It all seems positive for now.
The good news on Embiid
"I talked to Joel [after a call with James], and Joel's like, 'Hey man, I just said I'm healthy,'" Gansey told ESPN, referencing the 31-year-old center's injury history that includes knee issues, Bell's palsy and an emergency appendectomy in recent years. "I just said to him, 'What do you think?' He's like, 'I don't know ... I don't know what he's thinking.'"
Since the start of his career, Joel Embiid has dealt with major setbacks. He has missed a large chunk of games since entering the league in 2014. A decade in, Embiid hasn't played in more than 68 games in a single season. He played in over 60 games four times--and the last time he did that was during the 2022-2023 season, when he was crowned MVP.
Since 2023-2024, Embiid has battled a knee injury, which lingered into the following year. After seeing the court for 39 games in 2023-2024, Embiid's season was cut down to just 19 appearances in 2024-2025.
Everything was looking up in 2025-2026 on the knee front, but then other factors started getting in the way. In the spring, he suffered an oblique strain, which sidelined him for more than 10 games. During the final week of the season, Embiid was ramping up for the playoffs, then he underwent an emergency procedure due to appendicitis. Although Embiid returned midway through the Sixers' first-round series against the Boston Celtics, he had multiple ailments throughout the second round.
On a positive note, Embiid didn't go into the 2026 offseason with another procedure planned. All reporting coming from Embiid's camp and the 76ers suggests that he should be ready to go for training camp in late September. The Sixers aren't expecting a full 82 from the big man, but getting him to the playoffs healthy still remains the goal.
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