Alright, hoop heads, buckle up because things are heating up in Philly!
Embiid’s Preseason Sideline Saga
So, the Sixers have decided to play it safe with their big man, Joel Embiid, whoโs taking a breather for the rest of the preseason. Why, you ask? Well, itโs all about that tricky left knee of his. The dude’s been chilling with the docs instead of hitting the court in Iowa and Boston. I mean, can you blame them? Philly wants Embiid at his peak when the real games start. ESPNโs Tim Bontemps spilled the beans, saying the Sixers are all about getting Embiid as close to 100% as possible. Makes sense, right?
The Sixers say Joel Embiid is progressing well in his ramp up process for his left knee, and will continue to stay on an individual treatment plan to prepare for the upcoming regular season. The team makes it official he wonโt play in any preseason games.
โ Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps)
Last year, Embiid barely touched the preseason floor, so no biggie there. Heโs eyeing the season opener against the Bucks on October 23rd. Fingers crossed, folks!
Weight Loss and MVP Dreams
Now, here’s a twist. Embiid’s been shedding some pounds, like 25 to 30 of ’em, to ease the load on that knee. And heโs not stopping there. More weight loss is on the horizon, he says. In my opinion, that’s a smart move. Less weight, less pressure, more buckets!
Remember last season when a knee injury cut his MVP defense short? Ouch. He only managed 39 games. But hey, this is a new season, and Embiid’s looking to come back stronger. Speaking of trades, did you catch that wild Curry rumor? Just kidding!
Scoring Feats and New Faces
Letโs not forget Embiidโs insane performance last season. Dude dropped a career-high 70 points against the Spurs. Seventy! That’s like video game numbers. Plus, he averaged 34.7 points and shot lights out from deep. Phillyโs got some new faces tooโPaul George, anyone? Theyโve locked in Embiid and Maxey long-term, and picked up guys like Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry, and Andre Drummond. Talk about a squad!
Oh, and Embiidโs new deal? A cool $192.9 million extension, bringing his career earnings to a jaw-dropping $514.8 million. Thatโs fourth all-time, trailing only LeBron, Curry, and George. Not too shabby, huh?
Looking Ahead
With all this talent and a healthy Embiid, whatโs next for the Sixers? Theyโre facing the Hawks soon, and itโs gonna be interesting to see how they mesh. Will this be the year they finally break through in the playoffs? Or are we in for another rollercoaster ride? Let me know what you think!
