Sixers center Joel Embiid told reporters at Monday’s media day that he has dropped “25 to 30 pounds” during the offseason and that staying healthy in 2024/25 is his number one goal entering this fall, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“I still got a ways to go. I still want to lose more, but it’s a process,” Embiid said. “As soon as we lost last year, I just texted (Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey) and I was like, ‘We got to do whatever it takes to make sure that in the postseason I’m healthy.’ So this year is all about (that).”
Embiid has made seven straight All-Star teams and five total All-NBA teams in addition to winning a pair of scoring titles and 2023’s Most Valuable Player award. While he has expressed pride in some of those accolades in the past, he made it clear on Monday that individual awards are far down his list of goals in 2024/25.
“There’s no agenda, there’s no All-Star, there’s no All-NBA, there’s none of that,” Embiid said. “It’s whatever it takes to make sure that I get to that point and I’m ready to go because … basically every single year in my career, I’ve been hurt in the playoffs. So that’s the goal, and it’s all about doing whatever it takes to get there.”
Adding a star like Paul George and so many other players to the roster will require an adjustment period this fall, so it’s not as if the Sixers can put Embiid in bubble wrap until the spring. Morey acknowledged on Monday that finding a balance between managing the star center’s minutes and making sure the new-look roster has plenty of opportunities to establish chemistry will be important.
“We’re going to be really smart about it,” Morey said. “Obviously, we’re very focused on April, May and June. That doesn’t mean that the time right now isn’t very important as well, but we’re going to be very smart about how we manage him through the season. There’s going to be a lot of information, as we learn about how everything’s working with the entire roster.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Appearing at the Sixers‘ media day on Monday, veteran center Andre Drummond reiterated his belief that he’s “the best rebounder to ever play the game,” as Sean Barnard of Fox Sports The Gambler in Philadelphia relays (via Twitter). As we noted last September when Drummond made a similar claim, his career rebounding percentage (25.1%) ranks first in NBA history.
- Speaking on the most recent episode of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Bobby Marks says he doesn’t expect Knicks forward Mikal Bridges to sign a contract extension prior to the start of the season. “The indication I’ve gotten just from talking to people is that there is not going to be an extension, that he will wait until next year to look at what the extension,” Marks said (hat tip to RealGM). “… Because he’s limited as far as the six-month rule as far as what he can extend for. Next year, he can extend for four years. It just gives him more flexibility. That could certainly change by October 21st. Maybe this (Karl-Anthony Towns) trade does change that thinking. This was talking to people before this trade happened.” As Marks alludes to, the most lucrative extension Bridges can sign before this season is for two years and about $61MM. Next offseason, he could get up to $113MM over four years.
- The Celtics‘ sale process is expected to begin accelerating this week, a source tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. According to Himmelsbach, the banks facilitating the sale are set to contact a group of individuals that includes both potential buyers who have expressed interest in the team and “other qualified buyers who have been targeted by the sale facilitators.”
Embiid can get rest more often if needed this year. Drummond can start when Embiid needs rest. Last year sixers didn’t have a backup C like Drummond.
Wants more rest and claiming to of been injured in the playoffs basically his whole career. Who is 100% healthy in the playoffs? Crazy skilled and a specimen physically, Crazy soft between the ears.
Who plays with a broken face, thumb torn off or one leg dragging 3 feet behind him. Get off your Joel MVP hate train and appreciate the work ethic that goes into making greatness.
Sixers are still a third place team….
Embid is essentially acknowledging his poor conditioning to this point in his career. His weight would only have contributed to him being injured if he was significantly overweight, obese really.
In any event, why isn’t Morey not promising to lose 25-30 lbs himself, to show solidarity with Embid.
Yes and still a two time scoring champion,MVP,7 time all star,5 time all NBA,3 time all defensive team. So get off the hate train and hope your knickerbockers find a legitimate 5.
Second round bro at best, sound familiar? The guys a sook and a blame shifter. Pre and post excuse king. Apparently you’re happy with that. Cool, enjoy. Not sure they beat the pacers letalone NY and Boston. The man has more turnovers than points in the 4th come playoff time. This is your king, your so called MVP? Good luck with that. Maxey needs to be the closer on this squad, some MVP. Everybody else is 100% healthy come playoffs except this dude. Already putting excuses out and the season hasn’t even started.
Hate? Well, I approach basketball, particularly the professional version, as a fan of the game, with critical faculties, not as a love sick fanboy. I guess to some here that’s hating. Considering what I believe is the alternative, I’ll have to accept it.
Embiid has long claimed that his constant flopping around helps prevents injuries…. yet he now admits that he’s injured every year come playoff time.
Him and Podcast P, no good knees between these two