The 76ers should have Joel Embiid available when they try to snap back into the win column Sunday in Chicago.
Embiid was listed as probable on Philadelphia’s injury report for the matchup with the Bulls, with the team noting right foot plantar fascia injury management. It’s a familiar issue from last season, and the 76ers appear to be handling it carefully with their star center.
He has already missed two of Philadelphia’s games this season, but when he’s been on the floor, he’s still been central to what the team wants to do. Embiid has played a little over 32 minutes per game in his eight appearances, putting up 17.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 38.1 percent from the field, 10.7 percent from 3-point range and 89.3 percent at the line.
Those numbers are below his usual standard, but there’s still plenty of reason to expect them to climb as the season goes on.
The 76ers’ offseason overhaul brought in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but Embiid remains the biggest piece of the puzzle. The seven-time All-Star and 2023 league MVP is still one of the league’s premier centers, and Philadelphia’s ceiling still runs through him.
Drafted No. 3 overall in 2014, Embiid was long viewed as the franchise cornerstone in Philadelphia. Injuries have repeatedly interrupted that path, including last season when he was limited to 38 games. Even so, he made it back for the playoffs and helped the 76ers knock off the Boston Celtics in the opening round.
In Other News...
LeBron James Is Suddenly At Center Of A Bizarre Police Incident
LeBron James found himself at the center of a strange off-court episode this week after a man was arrested on suspicion of stalking him in Los Angeles. According to the report, the suspect allegedly entered property connected to James and claimed to be his son, prompting police to file a stalking report.
The man did not enter James residence, but the incident was serious enough to draw law enforcement attention and leave plenty of questions unanswered. His identity and other details have not been released, adding another layer of unease to a bizarre situation involving one of the NBAs most recognizable stars. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Camp Invitees Left With A Message They Wont Forget
Training camp can be a brief stop for players on Exhibit 10 deals, but for Saint Thomas and several others, the time with the 76ers left a mark beyond the usual roster churn. Thomas looked back on his interactions with LeBron James, while Jameer Nelson Jr., Duke Miles and Dillon Jones, who were also in camp on Exhibit 10 contracts, have since landed with the Blue Coats and reflected on what the Philadelphia experience meant to them.
For players fighting to stay in the pro pipeline, those few weeks can matter as much as any box score. The Blue Coats trio spoke about their time around the 76ers and the transition that followed, and the quotes in the piece make clear how quickly a camp invite can turn into a lesson they carry with them into the next stop. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiids Shooting Slump Just Became A Real Sixers Concern
Joel Embiids outside shot has become a real talking point for the Sixers, and not just because the misses have piled up. He is hitting only 10.7% of his three-point attempts this season and has missed 17 straight from deep, a startling stretch for a player whose perimeter touch has long been part of what makes Philadelphia so hard to guard. Embiid has pointed to changes in his jumping mechanics as one factor, along with the simple reality that injuries over the past two years have limited the kind of practice reps that usually help smooth out a rhythm.
For the Sixers, the concern is less about one cold spell than what it means for a player who has to carry so much of the offense. Embiid has acknowledged how difficult the situation is, but he also sounds determined to work through it and get back to form. Philadelphia can live with a rough shooting patch for a while, but if the jumper keeps dragging, it adds another layer of pressure to a team already trying to maximize every possession around its star center. [Read more 🡒]