Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid’s impact on the team as he navigates through a knee injury to open the 2025-26 season has been a topic of discussion within the NBA.
“They’re not good enough defensively [without him],” an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “That’s why I have a hard time believing in them.”
Embiid underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April after appearing in just 58 of a possible 164 regular-season contests over the past two years due to injuries.
The 76ers have been cautious with the 2023 MVP’s knee to open the 2025-26 season, as he’s appeared in just six of their first 17 games.
“They have to figure out how to maximize Joel,” an East executive told Bontemps. “I don’t think he can come back and look like he used to. They have to try to use him in a strategic way, where he can have some value to them, but you can’t build the offense around him.”
Embiid hasn’t ventured into the paint as often when he’s been able to suit up, preferring to rely on his jumper instead. His average shot distance of 14.4 feet away from the basket this season is the highest of his career (via Basketball Reference).
“You look at where the league is heading, with the pace and the speed the game is being played,” the East scout said. ‘He was having trouble keeping up with it when he was healthy, let alone now.”
Embiid has remained an effective scorer despite his limited role, averaging 19.7 points in just 23.3 minutes per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field. He’s pulling down just 5.5 rebounds on a nightly basis, though.
Philadelphia has still been able to post a 9-8 record largely due to the heroics of Tyrese Maxey, who has thrived offensively to open the year. Maxey is recording 32.2 points, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game on 47.0/40.9/87.8 shooting splits while appearing in all 17 games.
Still, the 76ers’ ceiling for the remainder of the season will be largely determined by Embiid’s availability.
