As the Philadelphia 76ers gear up for the 2025–26 NBA season, all eyes are on the health of their franchise cornerstone, Joel Embiid.
After a turbulent 2024–25 campaign cut short by a left knee injury, Embiid’s status remains one of the league’s most closely watched storylines. Head coach Nick Nurse recently offered a cautiously optimistic update, signaling progress but stopping short of confirming Embiid’s availability for training camp.
“All the news is positive,” Nurse said during an interview at the Basketball Without Borders Europe camp in Manchester. “I know he’s working very, very hard and I think things look good. Whether he’s ready for training camp or not, I think there’s maybe a lot more decisions than that to make before we get there. But our main thing is that he’s healthy to play and play to his nearest capabilities”.
Embiid played just 19 games last season before being sidelined in late February due to complications with his surgically repaired knee. Despite flashes of dominance, his absence proved costly. The Sixers finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 24–58 record, their worst since 2017.
The injury marked another chapter in Embiid’s long battle with durability. Since entering the league in 2014, he has missed over 450 games due to various ailments. Yet, when healthy, Embiid remains one of the NBA’s most impactful players, earning MVP honors in 2023 and leading the league in scoring twice.
Philadelphia enters the new season with renewed hope. Alongside Embiid, the team now features Paul George and a healthy Tyrese Maxey, forming a potentially elite trio. First-round pick VJ Edgecombe and second-year guard Jared McCain add youth and athleticism, while veterans like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Eric Gordon round out the rotation.
Still, the Sixers’ ceiling hinges on Embiid’s availability. As Nurse put it,
“There isn’t a team in the NBA with a more dramatic variance of potential outcomes” than Philadelphia.
Beyond the physical rehab, Embiid has spoken about the emotional toll of repeated injuries.
“Every single year, you start asking yourself questions like, ‘Why?’ I don’t know if I can do it again,” he told ESPN last month.
Reports from insiders suggest Embiid is aware that his window may be narrowing, adding urgency to his recovery. With training camp set to begin October 1, the Sixers are holding their breath. Nurse’s update offers hope, but the uncertainty remains.
