Joel Embiid Expresses Optimism About Health Next Season

I'm looking at next year, obviously being more available. I know that if I'm available and I play as much as possible, everything else is going to follow. Embiid has averaged just 49 games per season across 10 years, not counting two seasons missed entirely at the start of his career. This postseason he dealt with an emergency appendectomy, right hip and ankle injuries and the lingering effects of returning too quickly from surgery. He missed Game 2 against New York and was compromised throughout the series. Even the things that I've been dealing with, they've all been related to the surgery, Embiid said. Because coming back early and the core is kind of weak, everything else is affected. Everything else is out of place. Embiid finished the postseason averaging 24 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists across seven games. He was particularly effective in Games 5-7 against Boston in the first round, leading Philadelphia back from a 3-1 deficit for the first time in franchise history. Nick Nurse praised Embiid's effort despite the circumstances. I commend him. He worked his ass off to get out there and play. Embiid said the troublesome left knee that limited him to 19 games last season and 38 this year has been addressed, and he plans to spend the offseason working on his game rather than rehabbing for the first time in years. Embiid has all three seasons remaining on his three-year 187.8 million extension signed in September 2024. Embiid will make 57.98 million in 2026-27, 62.62 million in 2027-28 and 67.26 million in 2028-29, which is a player option. Tonight, they were just better, Embiid said of the Knicks. We just got to get better from top to bottom. Ownership, front office, players, coaches, everybody just got to get better.