Joel Embiid’s health and availability remain major questions entering the 2026-27 season after several injury-limited years. Philadelphia nevertheless entered the summer with encouraging internal reports about the 7-time All-Star center.
On July 9, 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey said Embiid was healthy entering the offseason, had begun to get into shape, and was ramping up his workout program. The NBA currently lists Embiid at 270 lb, and Philadelphia has not announced an updated official weight.
LeBron James announced on July 24 that he would join the 76ers. That timeline shows Embiid’s offseason preparation was already underway well before James officially became his teammate.
LeBron James joins the 76ers after a lengthy decision
LeBron James chose Philadelphia after a free-agency process that lasted roughly 3 weeks. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that 76ers coach Nick Nurse was the only head coach James spoke with during that process.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing ESPN reporting, said Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown had all been in communication with James before his decision. That makes it inaccurate to state as fact that Brown communicated only through James’ agent, Rich Paul.
James announced his move on July 24 on a reported 2-year, $8 million contract with a player option. He spent the previous 8 seasons with the Lakers and has won NBA championships with Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles. Reuters reported that Philadelphia’s title odds moved from 20-1 to 10-1 after his decision.
Embiid reveals a leaner off-season physique
The NBA currently lists Joel Embiid at 270 lb. Philadelphia has not announced a new official weight for the 2026-27 season, so no specific offseason weight-loss figure has been established.
The more firmly documented development is Embiid’s health entering the summer. On July 9, Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey said Embiid was in a good space, healthy entering the offseason, and starting to ramp up his workout plan.
Embiid’s recent health history still warrants caution. He underwent an emergency appendectomy in April but returned to playoff action 17 days later. The Sixers’ current optimism, therefore, centers on his ability to train through the offseason rather than on any officially measured physical transformation.
“Trust the Process” becomes part of LeBron speculation
During a July 17 appearance at Fanatics Fest, LeBron James said he wanted to join a franchise that practiced championship habits while “trusting the process.” The wording immediately drew a reaction because the phrase has long been associated with Philadelphia’s rebuilding era and Joel Embiid.
James quickly said the phrase was not intended as a hint about the 76ers. He told the crowd that he had used “trust the process” throughout his career and had been saying it since entering the NBA in 2003.
Exactly 1 week later, James announced that he would join Philadelphia. The timing made the earlier comment notable in hindsight, although James had explicitly denied that it was a Philadelphia clue when he made it.
Health remains Philadelphia’s biggest Embiid question
Availability remains a major concern after another injury-interrupted season. Embiid appeared in 38 regular-season games in 2025-26 and averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
Over the last 3 regular seasons, he has played 39, 19, and 38 games, respectively. That equals 96 appearances out of Philadelphia’s 246 scheduled regular-season games during that span.
The encouraging development is Philadelphia’s assessment of his current condition. In July, Mike Gansey said Embiid was healthy entering the offseason, was beginning his training program, and was excited about the coming season. His availability remains a major variable for a roster that now includes LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown.
Fun fact: Embiid grew up playing mostly volleyball and soccer in Cameroon and began playing basketball seriously around age 16.
Embiid was part of Philadelphia’s recruitment of LeBron
Joel Embiid was among the 76ers players involved in Philadelphia’s pursuit of LeBron James. Reporting before James’ decision said Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown had all been in communication with the 4-time NBA champion.
James ultimately said he chose Philadelphia because he still wanted to compete for another championship and believed he could help make the 76ers a championship team. He announced his decision on July 24.
Embiid’s own offseason work was already underway before that announcement. On July 9, Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey described him as healthy, excited, and “fired up” as he began ramping up his training program.
Embiid’s offseason work began before LeBron arrived
The timeline shows that Embiid’s offseason conditioning program was already underway before LeBron James chose Philadelphia. On July 9, Mike Gansey said Embiid was healthy entering the offseason, was starting to get into shape, and had begun ramping up his workout plan.
James then discussed the qualities he wanted in his next team at Fanatics Fest on July 17. He did not announce Philadelphia as his destination until July 24.
James may eventually influence Philadelphia’s approach to preparation and leadership, but Embiid’s current offseason program cannot be attributed to James’s arrival. The documented training timeline began at least 2 weeks before James announced that he would become a 76er.
Championship expectations rise across Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s expectations rose sharply after adding James to a roster featuring Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe. Following James’ decision, the 76ers’ championship odds shortened from 20-1 to 10-1.
The talent is substantial, but Philadelphia still has major questions to answer about health, roles, and chemistry. Brown said at his August 6 introductory press conference that winning with such a talented group will require sacrifice. It will require communication and trust rather than simply relying on individual scoring ability.
Embiid’s availability remains particularly important after he played only 38 regular-season games last year, but the team’s success will depend on more than one player’s health. A fast start could shift the entire championship conversation around the league.
Little-known fact: Luc Mbah a Moute helped identify Embiid’s potential at his basketball camp in Cameroon and played a major role in creating his path to the United States.
TL;DR
- Joel Embiid shared new workout videos showing off a much leaner physique.
- LeBron James joined the 76ers this offseason after a short recruiting process.
- James reshared Embiid’s post with the caption Trust the Process.
- Reports say Embiid avoided surgery and met privately with James in LA.
- Analysts still debate how much credit James deserves for Embiid’s transformation.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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