The Philadelphia 76ers have a clear problem staring them in the face to open the 2026-27 season: Joel Embiid is carrying far too much of the load at center.
That’s not exactly a new storyline in Philadelphia, but it’s an especially sharp issue right now. Embiid is 32, has an extensive injury history, and the depth chart behind him has thinned to the point that the team is asking a lot from its star big man early.
The hit to the frontcourt started when backup center Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the preseason. Since then, Adem Bona has been the only true center behind Embiid, but Nick Nurse clearly hasn’t leaned fully on him yet. Bona has averaged only 12.4 minutes per game so far this season, even though he’s the lone other center on the roster.
There’s still a chance Bona becomes more dependable as the season unfolds, but at the moment, he’s not quite there. That has left Embiid with a heavier workload than the Sixers would prefer.
Through four games, Embiid is averaging 35.8 minutes per outing. If that pace holds, it would be a career high. He logged a season-high 39 minutes in Wednesday night’s 114-109 win over the Indiana Pacers, even though Indiana was missing starting center Ivica Zubac and lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.
The encouraging part for Philadelphia is obvious: Embiid looks healthy enough to handle it. The less encouraging part is that this is not the kind of mileage the Sixers want to pile on him in October and November. The hope has to be that he stays available all year, not just for the first stretch.
There is some help potentially coming. Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker both dealt with early-season injuries, but neither issue is expected to be long term, so both could return to the rotation soon. Tacko Fall, a two-way big man who has been dealing with a hip injury since the preseason, could also factor in down the line.
Philadelphia also received a disabled player exception after Hukporti’s injury, giving the team a path to add another big body. Even so, the Sixers can’t fill their vacant 15th and final roster spot until December unless they clear space by cutting a player, when contract costs become prorated.
For now, the burden sits squarely on Embiid’s shoulders, and the Sixers are left hoping he can absorb the early-season strain.
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The early returns have been strong enough that Gansey is already being mentioned in rarefied company, with chatter building around a possible run at NBA Executive of the Year. If that happens, it would not just reflect one busy offseason, but a level of league-wide agreement that is hard to come by in a job where every major decision gets picked apart from multiple angles. [Read more 🡒]