Joel Embiid isn’t pretending the hard part is over for the revamped 76ers. The talent is there, the names are there, and the expectations are there. What still has to be built is the part that can’t be assembled overnight: chemistry.
Philadelphia’s new mix includes LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Anfernee Simons, giving Embiid a roster that looks far different from the one that has spent most of his run as an early-playoff exit. Even with that kind of firepower, Embiid made it clear the first challenge is getting the group to click fast enough.
“I’ve had good teammates before, but we’ve got the right mix of leadership from the older guys. We got LeBron, and then the younger guys between Tyrese, V.J., and JB.
So, it’s a good mix,” said Embiid in a chat with ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “The biggest hurdle that we have is how quickly we can get together.
The last couple of teams that won a championship, it’s hard to put a team together after one year and be like, ‘Go do it.’ It’s not impossible, and it’s been done before, but it’s going to take everybody to accomplish that goal.”
That’s the reality for a roster that also features Embiid, V.J. Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey.
The 76ers have depth, versatility, and enough talent to make the Eastern Conference feel wide open around them. But history has a way of slowing down even the most gifted teams, and Embiid pointed to the fact that a championship group usually needs time to settle in.
The Miami Heat’s “big three” lost the Finals in 2011 before finishing the job the next season.
Philadelphia may have more runway than some teams, too. LeBron James signed a two-year deal this summer, which gives the Sixers more than one shot to get this thing right.
Still, the timeline won’t matter much if the team can’t stay on the floor. Health remains the other major piece, and Embiid said he’s in a strong place there.
“I feel pretty good,” Embiid said. “I have a little bit more time to recover and reset, so that’s been huge.
I’m in a good spot not just physically, but also mentally. That’s the part people might forget.
Getting injured every year and doing the same thing over and over, like ‘Am I done? What’s going on?’
I struggled a lot with that mentally.”
Embiid, 32, has dealt with injuries for most of his career, and the past 10 years have been defined by that pattern. He played only 96 games over the last three seasons combined, which is why the questions about durability are still hanging over him. The latest word, though, is encouraging: he’s in good shape physically and mentally as the 2026-27 campaign approaches.
He also reminded everyone that even in a difficult season, the production was still there. Last year, Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field.
The flashes of dominance were familiar. The challenge now is turning those flashes into something much bigger.
If the 76ers are going to break through next season, they’ll need more than star power and a clean bill of health. They’ll need the whole group to come together quickly. The early signs, at least, are pointing in the right direction.
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Sixers Overhaul Still Leaves One Big Question About Their New Rotation
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Even with that overhaul, the biggest issue may be how all of those pieces fit once the games start and the rotation has to settle. Embiid and LeBron James are both in the mix for load management plans, which only adds another layer to the equation, while Maxey has been framed as someone focused on team success over individual recognition. The talent is there, but the Sixers still have some sorting out to do before the new look feels complete. [Read more 🡒]