CAMDEN, N.J. -- As the Philadelphia 76ers continue training camp and prep for the upcoming 2026-27 season, it's important that Joel Embiid is looking along with how the team is meshing and getting on the same page for the upcoming season.
Embiid had a summer to be able to just work out and prep for the challenges to come rather than have to rehab any bothersome injury. The 2023 MVP winner was limited to only 38 games in the 2025-26 season due to a variety of issues as he was unable to reach 40 games for the third straight season.
With that being said, Embiid still averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while also fighting back from a late season emergency appendectomy to be there for the Sixers in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics.
When he's healthy and happy, as he has in camp, he is a different player.
"He looks good, man," raved Justin Edwards. "Yeah, he looks really good. He's competitive. He's still Joel. He plays around a lot, but on the bright side, he's good."
While Edwards has seen Embiid the previous two seasons, now is the first time seeing Embiid this close for rookie Labaron Philon Jr. The No. 22 pick of the 2026 draft has played a ton of basketball, but he hasn't seen anybody like Embiid has looked in camp.
"I’m gonna start defensively," Philon stated. "Like, he's been really good. Like 2-on-1s, 3-on-1s. He's been doing his job, stopping guys from scoring. That's kind of hard when you got a few guys coming at you. So, he's been putting big effort in on the defensive end, man."
If the Sixers are getting a defensive-minded Embiid, then that changes things for this group. He is still a dominant force offensively, which is something Philon has been impressed with when he sees what the big fella has been able to do on that end of the floor.
"Just like offensively, I don't think I've ever seen a big that can score, pass, and do everything at once," Philon marveled. "So, when you just seeing him do that, like it's been really joyful to see. Just because he’s got a smile on his face and he's making plays and stuff like that. Then he's getting into the game, and those guys are talking to each other. So, it's been good trying to play against him and compete."
Most importantly, Embiid is happy. The Sixers have been able to see him smiling and being a joy to be around, which is a big help for this group as they now move forward. Even Edwards notices a big difference in the former MVP winner.
"He’s really happy, honestly," Edwards laughed. "I asked him last year. I was like, ‘Did you like me my rookie year?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, man.’ I was like, ‘Cause you ain't never talked to me this much’, like you know, like I always tell people like Jo is probably one of the most funniest people on our team."
Justin Edwards on a happy Joel Embiid: “He’s really happy, honestly. I asked him last year. I was like, ‘Did you like me my rookie year?’ He was like, he's like, ‘Yeah, man!’ I was like, ‘cause you ain't never talked to me this much.’” #Sixers pic.twitter.com/gMe90zm1ph
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) October 2, 2026
The first preseason game for the Sixers is set for Monday against the New York Knicks. It will be interesting to see if Embiid will be able to give it a go and give Philadelphia a good start.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Multiple Sixers rave about how Joel Embiid has looked at training camp
