r/nba • u/PianoJealous307 • 14h ago
LeBron on Embiid "The difference between ’24 and now is that he’s just so much more healthy. He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in damn near everything that we’ve done. Pretty much. They’ve had to sit him out at times, even when he wanted to keep going. So it’s been good. Actually, great"
LeBron James is already getting his first taste of life with the Philadelphia 76ers. The four-time NBA champion took part in the Blue-White Game, the team’s intrasquad scrimmage held in front of around 10,000 fans at Xfinity Mobile Arena, offering an early glimpse of what the Sixers’ new-look team could become in the 2026-27 season.
James emphasized the importance of taking what the team had worked on during the first week of training camp and transferring it to the court: “To be able to take what we’ve done on the practice floor, bring it to a game floor situation around our fans, it was a great first step in the direction we’re trying to go.”
The veteran also showed an early connection with Joel Embiid, finding the center for a three-pointer in transition. James then spoke about Embiid’s physical condition, highlighting his progress compared to their time together with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“The difference between ’24 and now, he’s just so much more healthy. He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in damn near everything that we’ve done. Pretty much. They’ve had to sit him out at times, even when he wanted to keep going. So it’s been good. Actually, great,” James said.
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u/PantherDog52 14h ago
Hasn’t missed practice…. Damn near everything… pretty much… it’s been good…. Actually great…
I’m reassured.
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u/Professional-Bit1957 14h ago
Lebron letting Embiid dip into the LJ prescriptions that Mr. Paul is dropping into his locker
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u/Robinsonirish Finland 13h ago
Trusttthe Process. Ben Simmons annual 3p shootaround video, and Embiid has been resting so he's healthy this season. Sixers fans know how this works. With that said, if Embiid is in a wheelchair, they're a 2nd round exit. If he's healthy, they're going 16-0, will be interesting.
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u/Zaza1019 13h ago
LeBron got to the 2nd round last year in the West. With a joke of the Lakers team. The East is so much worse and he has Brown, Edgecombe, Maxey. He'd still get to the ECF even without Embiid.
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u/dWaldizzle 76ers 11h ago
I'm pretty sure the East just beat the breaks off the West in the finals no? Outside OKC and SAS the East is significantly better top to bottom.
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u/Robinsonirish Finland 13h ago
The East is not "so much worse" this year, conference is stronger than it has been in a long time. He's also a year older, and 1 year older at 41 matters a lot more than it does at 33. I think if they don't have Embiid 2nd round is fair, but I wouldn't be "shocked" if they reached the EFC, although in my eyes that would be them overperforming in relation to the rest of the top of the east.
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u/Much-Question-2199 8h ago
The champions are in the East and destroyed the spurs in the finals. The east is also just super deep with sixers, heat, pacers, cavs, Knicks, pistons.
You must believe in the lakers, rockets, nuggets, wolves more than I do if you think the west is better than the east. Valid take to say the West is competitive but your take is awful if you think the East isn’t strong.
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u/chivestheconqueror Celtics 14h ago
Famous last words
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u/LameAfro Timberwolves 14h ago
He even loses energy on 2K that I have to bench him for Bona lol
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u/ShotgunStyles Kings 14h ago
Sixers are trading Lebron for Ben Simmons before the deadline at this rate.
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u/Desperate-Hat-2510 10h ago
"Embiid is currently healthy and in great shape and looks great" isn't a claim it's just the present truth lol
he didn't say "He's gonna play 82 games and added 10 inches to his vertical"
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u/OApophenicusOAporius 14h ago
Can you even jinx Embiid?
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u/Creepy_Action_8755 76ers 14h ago
Team mate being supportive of team mate. More news at 11
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u/Desperate-Hat-2510 10h ago
lot of signs of early onset Embiid Derangement Syndrome in this thread. sad to see, a lot of people don't test until it's too late
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u/TiddiesAnonymous Germany 14h ago edited 14h ago
Bro what? its October 4th
Everyone's healthy at the beginning of the season. Edit: I was wrong, apparently even this is a high bar for Embiid
The guy that played with Anthony Davis is saying this.
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u/ihorsey10 14h ago
Embiid is usually never healthy to start the season. Always finishing rehab for a surgery of something he was playing through the year before.
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u/RemyGee Lakers 14h ago
Truth. He’s had issues in the beginning of the last 3 seasons. The last two were due to that knee issue.
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u/ihorsey10 12h ago
Exactly. Even this offseason, he's coming off surgery for his appendix like 4 months ago.
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u/YOLOSELLHIGH Mavericks 9h ago
I mean an appendectomy is a very easy surgery to recover from, not 4 months lol my 60 year old mom was in and out of the hospital in a night and back to her life the next day. Same with me, albeit I was 19.
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u/ihorsey10 9h ago
You have restrictions and pain for weeks, but sure.
I was mostly pointing out that even during Embiids healthiest offseason, he still had a surgery.
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u/secretlypooping 76ers 14h ago
And notably, he's like 100 pounds lighter and no longer wearing a knee brace/wrap
like this is probably the healthiest October he's had since he first stepped on the court for the sixers
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u/TiddiesAnonymous Germany 14h ago
And notably, he's like 100 pounds lighter
Lol did he lose a leg?
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u/PokeMonogatari 76ers 14h ago
Both, actually. Remarkably he can still dunk.
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u/BigPapaLegba 76ers 13h ago
The casuals who infest /r/nba would have to care about the NBA before the playoffs to know something like that.
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u/435rouhnj234_209u 12h ago
Sorry people don't keep constant tabs on the guy who's played less than 40% games over the last 3 years
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u/Successful-Film-3544 76ers 12h ago
You would hope the subreddit that endlessly rags on him for his injury history would maybe know his injury history
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u/435rouhnj234_209u 12h ago
He's played 50.8% of all regular season games since getting drafted. That one number is enough to rag on his injury history.
Why would people deep dive into specifics? Who gives a shit outside of the Sixers fanbase? How would the slander change if he misses games 1-20 vs 40-60?
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u/Successful-Film-3544 76ers 11h ago
The literal person people are replying to who did care, didn't know, and edited his comment to say he was wrong about it lmao
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u/435rouhnj234_209u 11h ago
Everyone's healthy at the beginning of the season. Edit: I was wrong, apparently even this is a high bar for Embiid
You think that's praise for Embiid?
Lol, Sixers fans are so desperate to see any love for their brittle prophet outside of their fanbase
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u/Successful-Film-3544 76ers 8h ago
When did I say it was praise
your reading comprehension is pretty bad lol
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u/435rouhnj234_209u 6h ago
Cool, so him saying he was wrong and Embiid is actually more pathetic than he originally thought is what you were claiming as a success.
Got it, my bad. I didn't expect a Sixers fan to do that, totally my fault.
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u/Desperate-Hat-2510 10h ago
you know the exact percentage of games he's played in the regular season but don't keep constant tabs on him? which is it?
"why would people deep dive into specifics?" \presents embiid's missed game total down to the decimal point** lmaoooo
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u/435rouhnj234_209u 10h ago
Do you not know that baskeball reference and calculators exist? I just looked it up before commenting, took me 20 seconds
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u/PhillyFreezer_ [PHI] Eric Snow 11h ago
Some of us are genuinely interested in the game of basketball and don’t build our entire fandom around slander
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u/BigPapaLegba 76ers 12h ago
You don't keep track of MVPs? Definitely casual. As you were.
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u/435rouhnj234_209u 12h ago
Why would I keep track of a player who's never even played in a conference finals?
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u/420209 76ers 7h ago
You are a weak gutted dog if you talk shit and don't flair up.
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u/435rouhnj234_209u 6h ago
I don't root for any team. Not everyone needs to attach their identity to tribalism like you, peasant
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u/Justgotbannedlol Mavericks 4h ago
And yet you are crying about being called a casual.
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u/435rouhnj234_209u 4h ago
How many full games did you watch last year?
How many minutes of real life basketball have you played last year?
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u/Neveraththesmith Spurs 4h ago
Sounds like you don't have any good conversations to add to this discussion.
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u/finester39 76ers 14h ago
Not Joel, he’s missed the start of the season several times.
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u/onionnurve 76ers 14h ago
This is the first healthy offseason Joel has had in forever
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u/fps129 Knicks 14h ago edited 13h ago
Best shape of his life.
Edit: yeah, ok. He’s super duper healthy. I believe yall. I’ll take 76ers fans on their word and trust the process too lol
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u/indoninjah 76ers 14h ago
But like actually. For all the people who call him fat and lazy, I don't think people understand that he historically can't do cardio for like 6+ months of the year
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u/roma258 76ers 14h ago
I can't remember the last off-season when embiid came in healthy. Maybe 2023?
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u/Ecoeconomic 76ers 14h ago
I cant find any articles saying he missed (part of) training camp that year. He played the first 14 games that season and 25 of the first 28 games.
First missed game was a back to back (playing 41 mins in OT the night before) 2nd and 3rd were due to illness (late scratch, Maxey also missed a game due to illness).
He then missed 4 games due to an ankle sprain, but played 9 of the next 14 after that before Kuminga fell on his knee.
If he is as fit as he was then, that would be an amazing sign, even if another accident could change it again.
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u/Southern_Clerk8697 13h ago
Hopefully losing all that weight is what will finally allow him to be healthy for the playoffs
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u/gtsgunner 6h ago
2023 was his mvp season right? I think he was fairly healthy that year.
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u/Ecoeconomic 76ers 6h ago
This was right after his mvp season, but yeah.
From Nov 27th, 2021 until January 30th 2024, he played 159 out of 191 games or 83%, good for 68 games on average.
He averaged 33.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists in that span.
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u/RealPrinceJay 14h ago
Joel basically never starts the year healthy lol
I'm not saying he'll stay healthy, and unfortunately it seems like some permanent damage has been done, but this is different from his status quo for sure in terms of weight and health
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u/We_The_Raptors Raptors 14h ago
The guy who won a ring with AD is saying this.
What y'all want LeBron to say about his teammates? "We all know Embiid is gonna get hurt so nothing matters anyway"?
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u/throwmeinthetrassssh 6h ago
It's funny because AD was usually healthy to start the season. Crazy that the year and a half just before we got Luka was the healthiest stretch of his Laker career and the year and a half after he got traded was the least healthy of his entire career
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u/ErrForceOnes 14h ago
Yeah and Zion looks like he’s in shape. Also, Ben Simmons has been working on his three point shot.
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u/PopeFuchsYoungKidd 12h ago
How can you forget Luka? Apparently he's lost weight and is in the shape of his life again!
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u/OsuLost31to0 Cavaliers 14h ago
I can’t believe LeBron gambled his last years on embiid being healthy. I’m still salty sorry
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u/ComputerLess8024 14h ago
better shot then gambling on playoff Harden
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u/Upper_Address_2778 13h ago
He couldve been a Knick, Warrior, Rocket, Timberwolf, or Spur too, let's not do this lol
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u/ThaRealSunGod Lakers 7h ago
Why would he join Houston lmao.
Whoop their ass one season and then help em up he next?
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u/OsuLost31to0 Cavaliers 14h ago
Harden would be our 4th best player with Bron. Sixers need Embiid to be their second best
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u/ComputerLess8024 14h ago
Not really lol Maxey, Brown, and VJ can carry the load. They just need him to be healthy enough to be able to be a body in the playoffs
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u/Overkillemall 76ers 14h ago
Well, are least they have Brown, Maxey and VJ. What else could he gambled on? Playoff Harden and Mitchell? Lamelo Ball? Warriors hospice? Or that someone will gift this dumbass Pelinka another Luka Doncic? And Thunder, Spurs, Knicks would feel like a pure ringchasing
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u/Naw726 Knicks 14h ago
I feel like it had to be the sixers or the Timberwolves.
JB going to the sixers kind of cemented it.
Theres a chance I feel like that it ends up as minnesota or cleveland otherwise.
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u/Overkillemall 76ers 14h ago
Yeah, In think without title it's Knicks and without Brown to the 76ers its Cavs. I mean they are the easiest one - homecoming, hollywood type of story, universally beloved by fans there, and no matter the result it would feel just right. And without Brown 76ers' title chances aren't that higher if they are at all compared to Cavs. In 76ers on the other hand if result won't match expectations it would feel like a weird side quest without any background. But I am glad LeBron with all his PR and legacy obsession still is so competitive he wanna try to win
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u/WeCantBothBeMe 14h ago
It likely would’ve been the heat if not the Sixers.
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u/Naw726 Knicks 13h ago
Heat was also a possibility I just think he fits with them worse and I wonder if he and his people felt the same.
I honestly think he got one of the best possible teams he could have for this situation, it really worked out nicely for him.
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u/WeCantBothBeMe 13h ago
The Heat need a primary playmaker so he’d fit in that regard but I agree that the Sixers were the best fit for him he’ll look awesome with Maxey and VJ.
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u/Only_Performance 14h ago
I firmly believe it was going to be the Knicks until they won and he just picked the next best story.
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u/coturnixxx 14h ago
"I firmly believe" lmao Lebron literally admitted it. But no doubt the team's winnability chances played a role, if Warriors had a better team he would've happily moved there to be with his bfs Steph and Draymond.
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u/RayWhelans Cavaliers 14h ago
Don’t care about anything else but finding a way to beat them in the playoffs because it’d be so funny
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u/WeCantBothBeMe 14h ago
Would you rather he gamble it on Harden’s defense or track record of choking in the playoffs?
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u/OsuLost31to0 Cavaliers 14h ago
Yes. Best ability is availability.
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u/MysteriousPrize8418 76ers 13h ago
I Loved watching Harden play on the Sixers in the regular season, but when physicality in playoffs is paramount, harden just cannot hang at this stage in his career.
And yes, I know Embiid is also has his fair share of issues in the playoffs. But harden being available in the playoffs doesn’t outweigh the rest of the Sixers roster, which is better than the rest of the Cavs roster right now.
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u/WeCantBothBeMe 13h ago
Playoff Harden disappears or actively hurts his team even when he’s available.
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u/No_Tangerine2720 San Francisco Warriors 14h ago
With Brown and maxey at least he has some insurance
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u/clingbat 76ers 13h ago
Don't forget VJ who may end up outshining both Maxey and JB down the road.
VJ is the future. In fact when LeBron was asked to use one word to describe each guy on the starting roster, for VJ he said "star". High praise.
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u/UnnamedStaplesDrone Warriors 11h ago
He woulda been in NY if it weren't for those meddling Knicks.
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u/Diligent-Cookie-1695 Knicks 14h ago
O/U for games played until we get the Lebron stare (Imma trade you) picture looking at Embiid on the bench?
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u/davemoedee Celtics 11h ago
The preseason “I’m healthy“ talk is always dumb. Especially when Embiid was always breaking down in the playoffs even when he was healthier.
But that team will be great if Embiid is back to All-NBA performance all year and LeBron doesn’t run out of gas.
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u/WanderingSun8 Timberwolves 14h ago
I doubt Joel lasts 2 months until he gets hurt again
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u/FxStryker 76ers 10h ago
It's almost like a 225 lb man fell on top of his knee unabated, and he rushed back trying to get the Sixers into the playoffs.
I wonder why there was an extended recovery time that spilled into the last season.
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u/Basic_Commercial_806 6h ago
And last season, Embiid still managed to be the best Sixer in the playoffs while extremely hobbled and coming off appendix surgery. That's insane
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u/Neither-Operation Knicks 14h ago
Embiid is healthy after an entire off-season? What an incredible achievement.
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u/Expensive-Rope-7086 13h ago
I’m skeptical someone injury prone can stay healthy a whole season of competitive basketball
NFL is literally having so many injuries this year.
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u/Abeds_BananaStand 12h ago
Nothing too original, but I can’t believe LeBron decided to go to a team with a fragile all star mvp for his “last X years”. LeBron is obviously incredible but he needs the chance to rest and rely on teammates especially in regular season. What a gamble
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u/EasyBread42069 Knicks 12h ago
I'm sure this is the year Embiid stays healthy all season. Positive.
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u/ILoveRegenHealth 9h ago
LeBron on Embiid "The difference between ’24 and now is that he’s just so much more healthy.
Haha we'll see about that, LeDoctor
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u/DLD1123 8h ago
Between Maxey, VJ, and Brown both LeBron and Embiid will be load managed and easily coast to a playoff 4-5 seed. They will both be healthy come round 1. Whether Joel can stay healthy in high intensity playoff series’ will be the real question. Expect Joel playing 22 minutes a regular season game or less. Except for the national games.
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u/Adorable-Corner-5307 8h ago
Joel’s always played normal minutes in fewer games. It’s apparently better than less minutes in more games. Bigger effort to prep for games less risk to play longer once properly prepped.
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u/TonyHawktuah69 7h ago
The issue is load managed how? Their back up 4/5 is Dean Wade? Also brown and maxey are racking up some absurd mileage. It’s asking a lot for them to carry even harder with less depth because you have no other center or backup forwards. you’re
The sixers have to make some sort of additional move for depth. The east is actually deeper than it’s been in forever, they can’t just coast all year
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u/FlyChigga Spurs 4h ago
I think Dean Wade and Bona are solid backups that can be decent spot starters
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u/IcedCoffeeOnTheRocks 8h ago
This just in! Teammate praises fellow teammate for doing the bare miniumum. More tonight @ 10.
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u/rocket_beer Celtics 13h ago
Another year, another city, another assembled super team…
Par for the course, for LeBron
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u/Dangerous_Ad5039 14h ago
LeBron was never a good GM. Anyone who watched the playoffs could see Embiid is a wrong turn away from retirement
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u/DickBottalico 76ers 14h ago
before Bridges punched him in the appendix Embiid looked pretty damn good against Boston
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u/subwayratlander Knicks 14h ago
“punched him in the appendix” why do you people come on here and lie
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u/DickBottalico 76ers 14h ago
my bad yeah his appendix was already gone you’re right
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u/subwayratlander Knicks 13h ago
impressive that he still managed to jump on kats neck with perfect precision
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u/Followthehype10 14h ago
Never a good gm ? Dude has won multiple. Championships while being "gm" how many gms have never won 1
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u/SharpMind94 Cavaliers 10h ago
He has a team where he doesn't need to flop to get fouls now. He just needs to stop that habit and he will stsy healthy
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u/jambr380 14h ago
Hey, I'm drinking the kool-aid with Paul George on the Celtics right now, too. More fun to be hopeful even if you know in your heart things will eventually go sideways