Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid didn’t sugarcoat the challenges facing his team as the new season approaches. At Media Day, he addressed both his uncertain health status and the franchise’s uphill battle to regain relevance in the Eastern Conference.
Embiid, who underwent knee surgery in April, admitted that his availability moving forward remains unpredictable. While he noted progress in his recovery, he emphasized that the Sixers must prepare for the reality that his presence on the court cannot be guaranteed every night.
“I want to be as honest as possible,” Embiid said. “Going forward, I’m just going to listen to the body. I’ll be honest and say it’s going to be unpredictable at times, and that’s OK. We’ve got to work with that.”
Beyond his own health, Embiid spoke openly about the team’s inability to consistently compete at the highest level. He pointed to the recurring absence of key players as a major factor in the Sixers’ lack of sustained success.
“Nothing helps me other than seeing us win,” Embiid told reporters. “For most of my career, we haven’t had the chance to do that without whether it’s them missing or another top player on the team missing. So I think that goes a long way.”
His comments reflect a frustration that has long simmered in Philadelphia: the Sixers’ inability to keep their stars healthy and aligned at the same time.
Despite the bleak outlook, Embiid stressed that winning requires collective responsibility.
“If you want to have a chance to win, that goes a long way,” he said. “You’re not going to be ready to win until everybody’s on the same page, and no matter who’s in or out, you find a way to win. That goes on us as players, the coaches. Everybody’s got to be on the same page.”
Joel Embiid on playing as much as he can–
“If you want to talk about winning, it takes all of us” pic.twitter.com/JimuqAJaN3— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) September 27, 2025
The Sixers are coming off a disappointing season that saw them finish near the bottom of the East, plagued by injuries and inconsistency. With Embiid’s health still uncertain and new pieces being integrated into the roster, the franchise faces another year of questions rather than answers.
