CAMDEN, N.J. — As Sixers PR approached the assembled media, everyone braced themselves. Typically, this is where we get the vague injury update or some catastrophic news.
Instead, we were told that Paul George and newcomer Trendon Watford (right hamstring tightness) did only individual on-court work. Head coach Nick Nurse would be open to any other injury-related questions.
So, what about the big fella?
Then we learned the news: Joel Embiid participated in practice Saturday afternoon as the Sixers kicked
off training camp ahead of the 2025-26 season.
For just about any other player, this wouldn’t be a big deal. For Embiid, it feels significant.
“He did participate,” Nurse said. “Like I said, everything right from the start was live, and he was in there participating in that stuff. He didn’t do everything, but he did quite a bit. I think he’s probably told you how he’s feeling, how he’s looking. He’s moving good and playing hard and had great spirit out there today.“
The way to describe Embiid both at media day Friday and practice Saturday was peaceful, almost zen-like. He understands how important he is to the team. He also understands he’s not going to be an 82-game player and that it’s up to the team to be better when he’s not on the floor.
He talked Saturday about how winning outweighs everything. When the team struggled mightily out of the gate last season, he felt an obligation to push through and play.
“Last year I kind of felt the pressure [after] the start that we had,” Embiid said. “I was not close to where I wanted to be, but I felt like I had to do something because I cared so much about [my teammates], the front office and the coaches.”
“You’re not going to be able to win until everybody’s on the same page,” he added. “No matter who is in or out, you find a way to win.”
Last season, the clear goal was to go out and win a championship after the signing of George. Things are different this year and the tone of the team reflects that.
A big focus for not just Embiid but for the entire organization has been taking things a day at a time. Daryl Morey talked about “winning the day” at media day. While that might be disappointing to hear from a franchise that hasn’t been to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2001, it’s the reality the Sixers find themselves in.
They can’t be a championship-caliber team without Embiid. They can’t be a successful regular season team if they can’t find a way to win without Embiid. Both things can be true.
Both Embiid and Tyrese Maxey talked about the offense changing a bit. Maxey described it as more free-flowing. Nurse explained that’s partly because the team has the personnel to play like that but that’s also the type of offense the team wants to run. It could be a way to make sure the offense produces when Embiid doesn’t play.
Embiid wouldn’t elaborate on the changes much — he quipped that he would just be planted in the dunker spot while the other four players got to do whatever they wanted. Good to know Tr-oel is still here sometimes.
Still, Embiid spoke like a true vet who’s seen just about everything this league can throw at him. He knows he’s not perfect, but he hopes the team’s young players will learn from him.
“We’ve all made mistakes in the past,” he said. “We learn from it and we move on. … That’s the same thing as a father. You have your first kid, you have your second, your third kid — you learn that you keep going as a father. It’s the same thing [with the young players]. Teaching them about the stuff I wish I could have done different. And there’s some stuff that you can’t really do anything about it.”
Joel Embiid was on a basketball court playing basketball. That’s all he can focus on today.
