Joel

Embiid

Embiid told reporters after the win over the Cavaliers on Thursday that he will sit out one of the 76ers’ games this weekend. Given that he’s not listed on the injury report for Saturday’s game against the Bucks, it looks like he’ll play Saturday and sit out Sunday’s game against the Pistons. Adem Bona or Jabari Walker will likely start in Embiid’s absence.

The 76ers were the only team with a four-game Week 1, which will conclude with a Saturday-Sunday back-to-back. Embiid sitting out one game of a back-to-back, especially this early in the season, is not a surprise. The only issue is that he didn’t reveal which game he’ll miss, with the 76ers hosting Milwaukee on Saturday and Detroit on Sunday. Given the strength of those teams, the Bucks may be the team that misses out on having to deal with “The Process.” Adem Bona or Jabari Walker could get a spot start, and LeBron James may spend a little more time at center as a small-ball alternative.

After scoring nine points on 3-of-10 shooting in the first half, Embiid shot 5-of-6 after halftime, scoring 15 points. His increased production helped the 76ers erase a 29-point deficit, as Nick Nurse’s team ramped up defensive pressure and played with more pace on offense. Embiid’s ability to keep up with his new teammates is something to watch, especially when considering his injury history. But for the most part, he’s been good through Philadelphia’s first two games.

Despite not having much success with his shot, Embiid was still able to make a monster impact in this game. He recorded a double-double, was effective as a playmaker, and still contribute some defensive stats. There are plenty of questions about how Embiid will hold up this season, but when he’s on the floor, he’s still one of the most dynamic players in the league. He should be much better as a scorer moving forward as well.

The 76ers made a concerted effort to get Embiid going after a poor outing against the Nets last Thursday. The question is more about how he will fit in the offense during the regular season given his health issues, and we’ll find out more next Tuesday against the Knicks. This team’s future is heavily dependent on the health of Joel Embiid.

While he was far from sharp on Thursday, Embiid played 24 minutes without incident against the Nets. More concerning than the 1-of-5 night from the field was his eight turnovers, but it’s just the preseason. Embiid won’t make a habit of that, especially with Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James on the floor. Most importantly, the former MVP needs to stay healthy, as the 76ers are without Adem Bona (foot) and lost Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) for the season on Monday. If Embiid can avoid the extended absences that have recurred throughout his career, he should exceed his ADP (50) by a safe margin.

Bona, who is expected to compete with Ariel Hukporti for the backup center job, suffered the injury while representing Turkïye during FIBA World Cup qualifiers. The 76ers announced that he’ll be re-evaluated when training camp begins at the end of the month. While Bona’s injury won’t significantly affect his fantasy draft value, missing regular-season games would remove a potential safety net for managers who select Joel Embiid.

Fall last played in the NBA in 2022, but he’ll get another shot after playing professionally in China. Fall could make an impact as a backup big man if he sees the court, but he’ll compete with Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti for minutes behind the oft-injured Joel Embiid. Thomas and Nelson Jr. are unlikely to see many minutes this season, barring multiple injuries up the depth chart.

Embiid and the 76ers disappointingly saw their season end as the Knicks swept them in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Since then, there’s been a change in leadership, with Gansey replacing Daryl Morey. In addition to acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, the 76ers signed LeBron James in free agency. Expectations going into next season will be sky-high, and it helps that Embiid can use this offseason to hone his craft instead of recovering from another injury. “This is like the first summer I think in a while that he’s been healthy, so he’s been in the gym working out,” Gansey told ESPN. “He’s been lifting weights. He’s extra motivated. He wants to play a lot of games, and he’s excited about the group we’ve built now. Even before these trades and LeBron, I think he was excited. So he’s motivated to have a good year and he’s ready to go.” When healthy, Embiid can be one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball. However, the injury history will likely keep many managers from selecting him with a first-round pick in drafts.

Despite clearly being compromised physically, Embiid deserves credit for the effort he put forth in Sunday’s series finale. The 76ers’ center didn’t miss a shot from the field and led his team in scoring. Unfortunately for Embiid and the 76ers, the Knicks were able to attack him on the other end of the floor when they weren’t knocking down one of their 25 three-pointers. During the regular season, Embiid provided second-round per-game fantasy value, but he was limited to 38 games due to injuries. Availability concerns decreased his ADP by a few rounds in drafts last fall, and that’s likely to remain the case ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.