Joel Embiid’s summer has gone the way the 76ers have wanted for a while now: healthy, active, and in the gym.
That was the message from Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who offered a notably upbeat update on the star center and his offseason work. Embiid has dealt with knee injuries in recent offseasons, but Gansey said this summer has been different.
"Joel is great. 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.
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," Gansey said of Embiid.
"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."
Gansey’s comments line up closely with what Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said recently, giving the same basic picture of Embiid’s offseason. Nurse praised both the way Embiid looks and the work he’s putting in.
“Joel is still unbelievably talented. He looks fantastic by the way, he’s having a great summer, probably for the first time in a couple summers,” Nurse said.
“He’s in shape, he’s active, and he’s feeling much better to get out on the floor and to get in the weight room and stuff like that, and he’s still a great offensive hub.”
Philadelphia’s offseason has also brought major additions in Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, but Embiid remains the center of everything for the Sixers. If they’re going to hit their ceiling, his health and availability will be a huge part of the equation - which is why these reports from inside the organization matter so much.
In Other News...
Markieff Morris Just Added A New Twist To Phillys Final Roster Spot
Markieff Morris has put himself in the conversation for Philadelphias final roster spot by taking the unusual route of airing his interest on social media. The veteran forward, a former teammate of LeBron James, made clear that he knows the minutes might not be there, but the appeal for him is bigger than playing time. For Morris, the draw is the chance to join a championship-contending group in his hometown, which gives the pitch a personal layer the Sixers have not had to weigh too often.
For now, though, there is no sign the 76ers are treating Morris as a serious option. That leaves his public push more as a self-made twist than a true momentum shift, even if it does underline how the last spot on a contender can attract veterans willing to fit almost any role. Philadelphia still has the final say, and until the team shows more than passing interest, Morris is left hoping the hometown angle is enough to keep him in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid Gives Sixers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Joel Embiid has spent the summer healthy, and that alone is enough to give the Sixers a different kind of optimism as they look ahead to the new season. President of basketball operations Mike Gansey said Embiid is eager to play a fuller schedule, and the front office believes the star center has plenty of reason to stay engaged after the team reshaped the roster around him.
Gansey also pointed to the way Embiid and LeBron James meshed at the 2024 Olympics as a sign the fit can work when the coaching staff starts building out the new lineup. The next step is turning that promise into something practical, with the staff expected to manage Embiid carefully while trying to make the most of a group that now has far more star power and far more expectations. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Said Exactly What Sixers Fans Needed To Hear
Jaylen Browns first public turn in a 76ers uniform gave Philadelphia exactly the kind of tone-setter fans wanted to hear. At his introductory press conference, he talked with clear enthusiasm about joining the team, working alongside the fanbase and settling into a group that expects to matter right away. He also framed the move in familiar Philadelphia terms, putting winning at the center of everything while nodding to the importance of team chemistry and the citys energy.
Brown did not stop at basketball, either. He said he wants to stay active in the community and continue the philanthropic work that has long been part of his profile, which matters in a city that likes its stars to show up beyond the court. The bigger question now is how all of that translates once the games start and the expectations tighten, because in Philadelphia, words are appreciated, but the real test comes fast. [Read more 🡒]