Sixers pre-camp questions: Will Sixers be healthy when it matters most?

Sixers pre-camp questions: Will Sixers be healthy when it matters most? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers‘ new era is on deck.

With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown on board and training camp set to begin in late September, we’re taking a look at key questions for the 2026-27 Sixers.

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We’ve asked:

Just how dramatic of an impact will James make?

What role will Brown play on his new team?

Next up: Will the Sixers be healthy when it matters most?

Joel Embiid is naturally the first name to cover with the Sixers’ health picture.

Embiid last exceeded 40 regular-season games in his 2022-23 MVP year. He played 38 last season, then missed the first three games of the Sixers’ first-round playoff series against the Celtics as he recovered from an appendectomy and sat out Game 2 of Round 2 vs. the Knicks because of ankle and hip injuries.

As many Sixers fans have seen, Embiid has been on the court and looked in excellent physical shape this offseason. Embiid has indeed been moving well and feeling good about his summer, a team source recently said. The organization is optimistic about his health and mobility in the season ahead.

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We’ll see exactly how the team handles his games and minutes this year. It would certainly be a surprise to see Embiid play back-to-backs again off the bat. The Sixers plan to have a fluid approach with Embiid as the season progresses and they see what works for his body and for the team. On head coach Nick Nurse’s 2018-19 NBA champion Raptors, Kawhi Leonard played in 60 games and zero back-to-backs. Toronto went 9-3 on the second leg of back-to-backs. The Sixers had a great year in that regard last season, going 12-4 on the second night of back-to-backs, and would be thrilled with similar results in the 2026-27 campaign as they manage their star-packed roster.

Sixers vice president of athlete care Simon Rice has worked closely with Embiid, who credited him after scoring 40 points in the team’s Jan. 31 win over the Pelicans.

“We figured out the schedule,” Embiid said, “and what I have to do every single day to make sure I’m prepared and that I feel good. ……

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Publish date : 2026-09-10 13:05:00

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