Joel Embiid Says He's 'Feeling Pretty Good' Entering 76ers Camp

No question looms larger over the Philadelphia 76ers than Joel Embiid's health. With LeBron James now on the roster and championship expectations back in the building, whether the star center can stay on the court may decide how far this team goes.

At media day on Monday at the team's Penn Medicine training complex, Embiid offered an encouraging update as he prepares for his 13th season in Philadelphia.

"I'm feeling pretty good," he told reporters.

A Plan Built Around the Postseason

Embiid said his goal this year is simple: suit up as often as he can. He explained that he and the team have mapped out a plan designed to keep him healthy through the regular season so that he's at full strength when the playoffs arrive.

He didn't go into detail on what that plan looks like, but he stressed that the Sixers are committed to following it, however the path unfolds. The message was clear: availability in the spring is the priority, and everything between now and then will be managed with that in mind.

A Noticeably Leaner Embiid

Embiid arrived at camp looking slimmer than he has in several years, a visible sign of the offseason work he put into his conditioning. That effort has already caught the attention of his new teammate.

James, the Sixers' headline acquisition this summer, called Embiid one of the most gifted players in the world and said the only thing that has held him back is his health. In James' view, keeping Embiid healthy is the key to unlocking both the best version of the center and the best version of the team.

James said he has watched Embiid invest heavily in his body, his skill work and his mental approach over the offseason. He described that as a major upside for the rest of the roster, and said he was confident it has been a rewarding experience for Embiid himself, even while noting he didn't want to speak on his teammate's behalf.

A Troubling Recent Injury History

The optimism comes with plenty of context. Embiid has appeared in just 96 regular-season games combined over the last three seasons and hasn't topped 40 games in a season since winning MVP in 2022–23.

His 2024–25 campaign was limited to only 19 games. The team ruled him medically unable to play amid persistent problems with his left knee, issues that traced back to a torn meniscus he suffered the season before. That injury required surgery and kept him out until late in the regular season.

Another Stop-and-Start Season in 2025–26

Last season brought a different kind of setback. On April 9, Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy that sidelined him for Philadelphia's final two regular-season games, its play-in matchup with the Orlando Magic and the first three games of its first-round series against the Boston Celtics.

Once he returned, the bumps kept coming. Embiid missed Game 2 of the Sixers' second-round series against the New York Knicks while dealing with injuries to both his hip and ankle.

What It Means for Philadelphia

The Sixers have built a roster capable of contending, but that ceiling depends heavily on their center. A healthy Embiid alongside James and the rest of the core could make Philadelphia one of the East's most dangerous teams. Another season of missed time would leave the franchise asking the same questions it has for years.

For now, Embiid is saying all the right things, and his teammates are seeing the results of his work. The real test will be how that plan holds up over an 82-game season and whether he is still standing when it matters most.