Joel Embiid was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014 with the third pick, but didn’t make his debut until the 2016-17 season due to injuries. The 32-year-old is the longest-tenured 76er, as he enters his 13th season with the squad, and he is well overdue for a Conference Final appearance. The center has been close several times, as he has forced three total Game Sevens in the Conference Semifinals, which he has lost all three, but this year could be different. In years past, Embiid has had to take on the burden of being the team’s first option, which is a whole lot to ask for when he’s struggled with injuries throughout his career.
As we all know, Jaylen Brown was sent to the 76ers for Paul George and multiple picks. This trade alone could be the reason they finally make the jump. Embiid doesn’t have to worry about being the main guy when they have Tyrese Maxey and the newly acquired Brown. Along with a young, up-and-coming star, VJ Edgecombe, this looks to be one of the more talented rosters in the league. Their projected starting lineup is Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, Dean Wade, and Embiid. Philadelphia also signed guard Anfernee Simons to a two-year, $12 million deal, who helps bolster the bench and has chemistry with Brown from their Celtics playing days.
Joel Embiid Conference semifinals record:
2026: Lost 4-0 to the New York Knicks
2023: Lost 4-3 to the Boston Celtics
2022: Lost 4-2 to the Miami Heat
2021: Lost 4-3 to the Atlanta Hawks
2019: Lost 4-3 to the Toronto Raptors
2018: Lost 4-1 to the Boston Celtics
Embiid has career playoff averages of 24.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game across 66 postseason appearances. The fit between the big three could be a little weird, as a player of Brown’s caliber demands the ball, and pairing that with two players who already dominate the ball might not be the best fit. The addition of Brown could actually hinder Edgecombe’s development, as he’ll get fewer touches, which means fewer reps for the sophomore.
Embiid playoff injury history:
2026: Underwent an emergency appendectomy just before the playoffs.
2024: Played with a torn meniscus and Bell’s palsy, which affected his left eye.
2023: Suffered a right knee sprain that sidelined him for the final game of the first round and the beginning of the second round.
2022: Sustained a concussion and a fractured right orbital bone (missed 2 games in the second round) as well as a torn right thumb ligament.
2021: Played through a small meniscus tear, which caused him to miss one game in the first round.
2019: Dealt with knee tendinitis and an upper respiratory illness.
2018: Suffered a left orbital bone fracture and a concussion, forcing him to miss the first two games of the postseason.
Maxey has already shown he can lead this team, as he dragged Philly to a 45-37 record despite a load of injuries on the roster. He did all of this while averaging 28.3 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and 6.6 assists per game in 70 games played for the 76ers. Brown did a ton of carrying for the Celtics this past season as he led them to the second seed with a record of 56-26. The 29-year-old averaged 28.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 5.1 apg across 71 appearances for Boston. Brown can reduce the big man’s workload tremendously as he commands the defensive attention to focus on him a lot more than George did.
The point is, Embiid can finally get over the hump of making a Conference Final after 13 years in the league, and playing alongside two all-NBA guys could make that a lot easier. The only problem is that the other teams have added talent this offseason, especially teams in the East that the 76ers will have to face in the playoffs. Don’t think that it’ll be an easy road for Philly just because they have a talented roster. We’ve seen it before: a team has all the talent in the world, but it just doesn’t mesh well on the court. If all goes to plan, and the team stays healthy, a run to the Conference Finals is a real possibility.
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