Fresh off winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA, Joel Embiid returned to the spotlight at the Philadelphia 76ers’ media day. Embiid reflected on the challenges he faced in Paris, such as criticism over his performance and dealing with a less-than-welcoming crowd. Discussing his Olympic experience, Embiid remarked, “I actually thought it was softer… I thought we talk about flopping a lot in the NBA, but there was actually more flopping, especially by guards.”
He also criticized the referees, stating, “I felt like there was something against us Americans here.”
As for the upcoming NBA season, Embiid’s focus has shifted to maintaining his health. After years of playing through injuries, the 30-year-old star center now emphasizes a more mindful approach to conditioning, noting, “I think I lost about 25, 30 pounds this offseason. I still want to lose more, but it’s a process.”
Despite Embiid’s personal accolades — including an MVP award, seven All-Star appearances, and five All-NBA selections — a deep playoff run and staying injury-free during the postseason have remained elusive goals. “This year, there’s no agenda — All-Star, All-NBA, none of that. It’s about doing whatever it takes to get to that point and be healthy,” he said, reflecting on his postseason struggles.
Last season, a knee injury limited him to 39 games, and he played in five of the last seven games while dealing with Bell’s palsy, which caused muscle weakness on the left side of his face. Even so, Embiid scored 50 points in Game 3 against the Knicks and averaged 33 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in the first-round series defeat.
As Embiid enters the new season, he’s determined to prioritize his health to give the 76ers a chance at a championship.
