Joel Embiid may have looked leaner in a new summer workout photo, but that did not stop 76ers fans from zooming in on the part of his body that has caused the most concern for years.
Philadelphia posted images of Embiid practicing with rookie VJ Edgecombe, and NBC Sports’ John Clark, who shared the picture sent out by the team, said the center has dropped some pounds this summer and called it "very promising." Still, the reaction online quickly shifted from optimism to alarm once fans focused on Embiid’s left knee.
That knee, the source of nearly all his physical issues, stood out in the close-up view as noticeably larger and more swollen than the other one. It is the same leg that was hurt when Jonathan Kuminga fell on it in a game against the Warriors, leading to a torn meniscus.
Embiid’s health has been the defining concern around the 76ers. Over the last three seasons, knee surgeries, meniscus tears and foot injuries limited him to 96 regular-season games.
Last season, an oblique strain and an emergency appendectomy on April 9 shortened his year to 38 games. That came after a badly interrupted 2024-25 campaign in which severe knee instability held him to a career-low 19 appearances.
Fans wasted no time pointing out what they saw in the photo.
One wrote, "I don't think so. I mean look at these knees."
Another added, "Great? Look at size difference in his knees there gone."
A third fan penned, "Left leg looks crazy big compared to his right leg no??"
A fourth observed, "Dude looks kinda sickly and has one swole knee and one skinny one, meaning he'll be overcompensating balance and strength on one side."
A fifth simply claimed, "That left knee is cooked. Swollen af."
And a sixth viewer noted, "Great, now let's see him play more than 40 regular season games."
Of course, a workout photo can’t tell anyone how Embiid’s body will hold up over an NBA season. Swelling and scar tissue are normal after multiple surgeries. But the image was enough to bring back the same old anxiety: whether his joints can survive another full grind.
Philadelphia now has real championship pieces around him, with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey in the mix. But for the 76ers, everything still comes back to one question.
Can Embiid stay on the floor for 65-plus games? A summer photo can’t answer that.
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