Tyrese Maxey is clear about the Sixers: "Having a healthy Joel Embiid changes everything"

The Philadelphia 76ers face the 2026-27 season with one of the major uncertainties of their project: the health of Joel Embiid. The center, NBA MVP in 2023, has dealt with physical issues for much of his career, but his availability during preseason has allowed the team to work on a fundamental issue for their aspirations. Tyrese Maxey is clear about it: having his teammate in good physical condition can completely change the franchise's outlook.

“Having Joel healthy changes everything,” the guard said on Thursday, emphasizing the importance of being able to prepare for games with Embiid available from the start. For Maxey, the difference is not only having one of the most dominant big men in the league but also the time the team can devote to building systems around him.

“You can incorporate more systems. There have been times when he hasn’t been healthy, and we go into the game trying to learn on the fly,” explained the Sixers player. Embiid's absence during practices has sometimes forced his teammates to adjust directly during games, a situation that hinders collective development.

A key preseason to integrate new signings

Embiid's continued presence during preparation takes on even more importance given the changes in Philadelphia’s roster. Among the new additions are LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, two players who must familiarize themselves with the movements, preferences, and spaces that the center needs to develop his game.

Maxey, who has been sharing the court with Embiid for six years, knows his tendencies perfectly. He understands where he prefers to receive the ball, when he needs the wings to cut to the basket, and how the offense should be organized to take advantage of his qualities. However, that knowledge is not gained overnight, especially when it comes to a big man with such unique characteristics.

“If you haven’t played with a center like Joel, there are very few that resemble him. It is very hard to learn certain things,” acknowledged Maxey, who believes that the training sessions over the past weeks have allowed progress in that adaptation process.

“With him here, we can practice those situations over and over again. We’ve been working and repeating those movements for two or three weeks now. That’s a positive thing,” he added.

The ability to repeat plays and adjust details during practices can be crucial for the Sixers to start the season with a more defined offensive structure. Additionally, it will allow the new team members to develop a connection with Embiid before the results start to shape the team's direction.

Injuries, the great obstacle for Joel Embiid

The concern over the center's health is fully justified by his history. Throughout his ten seasons in the NBA, Embiid has averaged just 49 games played per season, never having completed a full 82-game season. Furthermore, he has only surpassed 60 games on four occasions and missed his first two seasons due to physical issues.

His last campaign was once again marked by difficulties. The center played 38 games, double the number he played in 2024, while dealing with complications in his right hip, issues in his left knee, and appendicitis.

This string of setbacks has also frequently affected his preparation. Embiid has missed training camp and preseason on various occasions, two periods that are especially important for a team that needs to adapt much of its offensive systems to the presence of a star of his caliber.

For this reason, his availability during the preparation for the 2026-27 season is positive news for Philadelphia. It does not guarantee that physical issues are behind him, but it does offer the team the opportunity to start the season with a more solid foundation for their work.

Embiid hopes to leave physical problems behind

The player himself expressed optimism at the end of last season. At that time, he stated that he had more confidence than ever in his physical condition moving forward and noted that his knee had been his main concern.

“I think, obviously, my knee was the biggest concern, and I’m not thinking about it anymore,” Embiid explained. The center also highlighted the importance of maintaining the work he had done to prevent discomfort from impacting his day-to-day life.

“As long as we keep doing what we’ve been doing, I won’t have to think about it again,” he added.

The Philadelphia 76ers need that optimism to translate into continuity on the court. With Embiid available, Maxey can leverage a connection built over six seasons, and the new signings have time to understand how to fit around the center. For a franchise aiming to compete at the highest level, the difference may lie precisely there: not only in the talent of its stars but in the possibility of bringing them together and preparing them jointly for enough time.

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