Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
May 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the New York Knicks in the second quarter during game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Philadelphia 76ers have spent the better part of the last decade being a fringe contender for the NBA Championship, but for whatever reason, year after year, they’ve fallen short.
Oftentimes, that reason is the health, or lack thereof, of superstar center Joel Embiid, who has missed hundreds of games over his career for everything from foot injuries to knee injuries and even facial fractures.
Along the way, Embiid has also been criticzed as times for his poor condition. However, with LeBron James now a member of the 76ers and the team yet again having title aspirations, Embiid looks like a whole new player.
Joel Embiid Appears To Have Lost A Significant Amount Of Weight
When Embiid first came into the league in 2014, there were concerns about how his slender frame would hold up against the NBA’s top post players.
Over the years, he added a significant amount of muscle. But fans began to wonder whether the added weight was contributing to his chronic knee issues.
Now, ahead of the 2025-26 season, Embiid appears to have slimmed down.
“This is one of the first off-seasons he’s healthy going into it…He’s healthy; there are no restrictions,” Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey said of Embiid on Wednesday. “He’s already been in the gym. He’s been working in the weight room 5 days a week, and his body looks good; he’s trimmed down a little bit”
Trimmed down a bit might be an understatement.
Due to the absurd talent that Gansey has stockpiled in the 76ers starting lineup, the team won’t have to lean on any one player the way it has in recent years.
That means Embiid, James, and even star guard Tyrese Maxey can make sure they enter the playoffs at 100 percent. If that happens, the rest of the NBA is officially on notice regarding the Philadelphia 76ers.