Sixers President: Embiid Healthy, ‘Extra Motivated’

The Philadelphia 76ers are banking on Joel Embiid staying healthy this season. For years, his injury history has been a major concern for the team and its fans. What if he stayed healthy? What if he was surrounded by better teammates?

According to 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, Embiid is “extra motivated” this summer. He’s been in the gym working out, lifting weights, and seemingly rejuvenated by his team’s blockbuster off-season moves.

Gansey notes that when Embiid is on the court, he’s arguably the best and most talented big in the league. However, he has played only 96 regular-season games over the past three seasons. “He wants to play a lot of games,” Gansey said, which is an understatement considering Embiid’s injury history.

The elephant in the room remains Embiid’s infamous injury record. It’s been three years since he last reached the 40-game mark, and even then it was his MVP season. The Sixers will need to carefully map out a plan for their star center, taking into account not just his health but also the burden they’re placing on him with the arrival of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.

With three alpha males in the starting lineup, there are bound to be some sacrifices made. Gansey hinted as much, saying “any given night, anyone can be the guy.” It’ll take time for coach Nick Nurse to mesh this potent group together, but if it works, we might finally see Embiid live up to his potential.

However, there are plenty of examples in NBA history where big-name additions failed to gel or lived up to expectations. The Lakers’ experiment with Anthony Davis and LeBron James comes to mind – a partnership that promised so much but ultimately fell short.

Despite this, the Sixers think they’re different. Embiid is older now, which might make him more resistant to injuries. More importantly, this team has a legitimate chance of being better than the sum of its parts. James and Brown are both proven winners who understand how to elevate their teammates, and with Embiid by their side, they might finally have the support system he’s always needed.

The Sixers’ schedule will be released next week, and it’ll be fascinating to see just how much playing time Embiid gets – or doesn’t get. Gansey has promised that they’ll “sit down, talk to him, talk to performance staff, talk to [coach] Nick Nurse” to figure out the best course of action.

The NBA world is watching with bated breath as we wait to see if Embiid – and by extension, the Sixers themselves – can finally live up to their potential.