When Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is right and healthy, he is still one of the more dominant and elite players in the league. He can score at all three levels at an efficient rate, get to the foul line, make a difference defensively, and give the Sixers the elite play they need on the floor.
As always, the issue with Embiid is his availability. He has not played 40 games in any of the previous three seasons, and only 38 in the 2025-26 season. With that being said, he still averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in those games. He then returned early from an appendectomy to help the Sixers rally from 3-1 to beat the Boston Celtics in Round 1. He is a real difference maker when he can get on the floor.
With the 2026-27 season
right around the corner, ESPN ranked the top 100 players in the league and Embiid comes in ranked No. 41 on the list:
When Embiid plays, he's productive and must be accounted for on every scouting report -- a shoo-in for 27 points and eight boards and a matchup nightmare with his ability to score at all three levels. But "when he plays" is still an issue, the biggest question mark for whether this talent-laden 76ers experiment can lead to a run through May. Since winning MVP in 2023, he has played in a possible 96 of 246 games (39%).
It's obvious that availability is the only reason why Embiid is so low on the list. If he could squeeze a few more games in, then he would rank higher, and the Sixers would be better for it. There aren't a lot of players in this league who can slow down a motivated and healthy Embiid. It just comes down to whether he can play and get on the floor for Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers star Joel Embiid ranked No. 41 player heading into new season
