The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the league’s biggest questions this season. When healthy, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George are All-NBA level players.
Since adding George last offseason, the trio has failed by every definition of the word, in large part thanks to nagging injuries keeping some, if not all of them, sidelined.
After winning only 24 games last season, it’s hard to take Philadelphia seriously. However, before they kick off the season, only George, Jared McCain, and Trendon Watford are out.
The rest of the roster, including Maxey and Embiid, are expected to be at their best.
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 04: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a foul during the first half of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Wells Fargo Center on February 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid Named Frontrunner for NBA Award
Embiid has his fair share of hardware. Last summer, he won an Olympic gold medal before nagging knee injuries ruined his season. Add in his seven All-Star nods, three All-Defensive appearances, and 2023 MVP award, and Embiid is a living legend.
Of course, it’s hard not to consider him a disappointment, anyway. His career has been defined by injuries. He missed the first two full seasons of his career, played in 19 games last season, and only 39 contests in the year before that.
However, the 76ers are getting their best player back. He is fully cleared to play in the season opener against the Boston Celtics, and he is expected to be back in form.
“Joel Embiid will play well enough to win Comeback Player of the Year,” predicted the New York Posts’ Mike Vaccaro.
Of course, the Comeback Player of the Year award doesn’t exist in the NBA, only in the NFL. However, players like George, Russell Westbrook, and Stephen Curry have all come back from seemingly devastating injuries, playing even better basketball than they had before.
Philadelphia 76ers Need a Healthy Embiid
What if Vaccaro is right? If Embiid returns to an All-NBA level and is one of the league’s best scorers, what does that mean for the NBA?
The Eastern Conference lacks superstars. Giannis Antetokounmpo is easily the best player in the conference, and then there’s a sizable gap between Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson. A healthy Embiid is the only Eastern player who can rival Antetokounmpo, although there’s little faith that he can return to form.
A healthy Embiid, Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe, along with a mostly-healthy McCain and George, should be able to run the Eastern Conference. Of course, we said the same thing when the 76ers employed Ben Simmons, James Harden, and Jimmy Butler, and they are yet to make it past the second round under Embiid’s watch.
If Embiid is healthy, the Sixers are always a threat. If they aren’t, expect a repeat of last season.
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