PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid spent a little bit of time along with his household on Friday afternoon. Then, he took a nap, his customized on recreation days. He pulled as much as Xfinity Cell Enviornment and obtained a standing ovation when he was launched within the beginning lineup along with his fellow Philadelphia 76ers teammates.
Then, on the primary possession of his first NBA recreation in eight months, he took one of many worst pictures you’ll ever see. It barely grazed the facet of the rim.
“All of it hit me after I took that horrible shot,” Embiid mentioned with fun. “I don’t even know what I used to be doing. However I simply felt like, effectively, I’ve the ball. I don’t even know if anybody was in entrance of me. I simply felt like taking pictures. I assumed I made it, and it wasn’t even shut.”
The Sixers in the end gained their preseason finale, a 126-110 victory over a Minnesota Timberwolves crew that left its whole beginning lineup and several other key reserves in Minneapolis. None of that mattered. What was significant was Embiid stepping on a basketball ground for the primary time since final February.
Lastly healed sufficient from his most up-to-date left knee surgical procedure in April, Embiid performed 19 eventful minutes. He scored 14 factors whereas handing out eight assists and grabbing seven rebounds. He sprinted again on protection when mandatory. He made jumpers after his first miss and usually regarded like himself. Most significantly, he regarded blissful, like a person genuinely appreciative of attending to do what he beloved.
“I believe the most important factor I felt was his pleasure,” longtime teammate Tyrese Maxey mentioned. “It was clear that he was blissful to be on the market, and the way blissful that I used to be for him to be on the market.”
A return to recollect for Joel Embiid tonight 🔔
14 PTS | 7 REB | 8 AST | 3 STL | 18 MIN pic.twitter.com/AgnSIryKGn
— NBA (@NBA) October 18, 2025
Does this imply Embiid shall be prepared for Philadelphia’s regular-season opener Wednesday towards the Boston Celtics? Whereas one can by no means assume the reply is sure, given his lengthy historical past of accidents, Embiid got here out of Friday night time’s recreation comparatively unscathed. Sure, he had a thick bag of ice wrapped round his left knee, however that was to be anticipated.
“I believe we’re going to be taught as we go about how my physique reacts,” Embiid mentioned. “As each recreation goes by, we’re going to see what to do and what to not do by way of restoration. That is going to be a studying course of. We’ll see how I really feel tomorrow. I’m going to take it gradual and do no matter my physique tells me to do.”
The basketball aspect of Friday night time was extra dependable. Final season, it was painful watching Embiid limp via 19 video games and common a contact over 23 factors per recreation on one leg. He didn’t appear to be himself or transfer like he was certain of himself. On Friday night time, Embiid regarded extra like, effectively, Embiid, and definitely significantly better than he did at any level final season.
He nearly flawlessly ran pick-and-pop actions along with his guards, notably Tyrese Maxey and rookie V.J. Edgecombe. Embiid’s playmaking for others was terrific, and he was in a position to create pictures for himself at any time when he wished. For the Sixers to be a crew that challenges for Jap Convention supremacy, they are going to want that model of Embiid for as many video games as potential.
After final season’s injury-riddled 24-58 marketing campaign, Philadelphia enters the 2025-26 season as an enigma. No person is aware of how wholesome the 76ers shall be or how lengthy they are going to be blessed with good well being. Even when Embiid is within the lineup subsequent Wednesday night time in Boston, the Sixers shall be with out second-year scoring guard Jared McCain, and sure will miss 2024 signing Paul George and energy ahead Trendon Watford. With or with out Embiid, Philadelphia should begin the season with out quite a lot of factors, rebounds and assists.
Not less than Embiid’s Friday night time efficiency checked one field, displaying he can nonetheless be an elite participant when wholesome. Virtually effortlessly throwing up a triple-double in 19 minutes on the ground is the mark of somebody who nonetheless possesses his basketball powers. Will Embiid miss video games this season? After all. But when he performs sufficient, it is sensible that the Sixers could possibly be a crew that surprises after final season’s distress.
There was a second within the second half the place Embiid noticed a runway to the basket and took it. At that second, the group, seemingly in unison, screamed, “No.” Embiid went down in a heap, and everybody within the constructing held their collective breaths. He was helped to his toes, and his knee briefly buckled. Then, Embiid sprinted up the ground, displaying he was not critically damage, and subbed out on the subsequent possession. That was the tip of his night time.
Not a lot was made from that sequence within the moments after the sport. It’s going to most likely go down as knowledge for Embiid and the Sixers to assist consider how his physique will reply to some adversity. Because the season wears on, Embiid will garner the conventional put on and tear of an extended marketing campaign. He’ll get fouled and knocked round. He could have some falls the place you marvel if he’ll stand up. How his relaxation and restoration go will inform the true story on how out there he’ll in the end be.
But this preseason has additionally proven that Philadelphia clearly has some expertise on its roster. The backcourt of Maxey, Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes is athletic, quick on the ground and dynamic in a number of methods. Every member of that trio scored no less than 20 factors Friday night time, and all three thrived off the gravity Embiid supplied in half-court conditions, then operating out in transition. If groups need to spend 55-60 video games making an attempt to cease Embiid, that backcourt shall be much more efficient, particularly as soon as McCain will get wholesome.
If Embiid is round most of the time to tie all of it collectively, maybe the 76ers will be higher than analysts suppose.
