PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers will put their championship hopes on the play of their stars. The Sixers have one of the more talented rosters in the league, led by newcomers LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but they're also counting on Joel Embiid to return to form.
Embiid has been battling a variety of injuries over the previous three seasons as he has not reached 40 games played in any of those seasons. When healthy, the big fella is still a dominant force as evidenced by his production, but health is always the operative word when it comes to the 2023 MVP winner. That is the biggest question with this group.
However, after a full summer to be work out and not have to worry about rehabbing from any injury, Embiid looks ready to roll. Especially,
after a big block on teammate VJ Edgecombe in the Blue X White scrimmage on Saturday, which he claims he got all ball after being called for the foul.
"I thought I was all-ball," Embiid said with a sly smile only he can give.
Embiid then followed up that dunk with a lefty slam as he looked the best he has been at this early part of the season than he has in years.
"Pretty good," Embiid said of his health. "Not bad. I don’t know, that’s probably (he took a pause), I said I would never dunk again. In the moment, he did block me the first time so I was kind of pissed off about it. So I was hoping that he would jump again, so that’s why I went for it. But, yeah, that’s probably the last dunk of my career (he smiled)."
As far as how camp has gone during the week, Embiid has noticed a high intensity with this group. He and everybody else knows what is at stake in the upcoming season. This is an important year when considering the talent that they have accrued for this roster. Embiid, James, Brown, and others will be looking to lead Philadelphia to the franchise's first title since 1983.
"It’s been good," said Embiid. "Obviously, new guys, but I’ve played with and against them for most of my career, so I know how to play. I think it’s been, quite honestly, it’s been easy. Everybody getting together, just playing. Yeah. It’s always good to do this, but practice has been a little bit more intense and more fun. But it’s been good so far."
As far as ways to accommodate his new star teammates, coach Nick Nurse hinted at a new offensive role for Embiid. The Sixers have been looking at different spots on the floor to utilize his vast skill set as he, James, and Brown do like to operate out of the mid-post. In an effort to get everybody in a rhythm on offense, it makes sense, but Embiid is ready to everything he needs for the Sixers to succeed.
"I mean, I can do everything on a basketball court, whether I’m at the top of the key, middle, left side, right side, 3-point line. So nothing changes," Embiid stated. "It’s just about making sure everybody succeeds at the same time, and that’s how we’re going to have our success and how we’re going to win."
The Sixers will begin the preseason on Monday when they play host to the New York Knicks.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Joel Embiid speaks on his health, how training camp is going
