Joel Embiid, the 2023 MVP and Olympic gold medalist with Team USA, had his 2024-25 season cut short after just 19 games due to a persistent knee injury. At 31, and years of wear, multiple surgeries, and recurring setbacks to the same areas have taken a toll on his body. As the Philadelphia 76ers enter preparations for the new season, the looming question remains if Embiid can return fully healthy and regain the dominance that has made him the team’s cornerstone.

It took just a few social media posts for 76ers fans to feel a spark of hope. Over the past weeks, the team has shared glimpses of Embiid taking shots in practice, and seeing him back on the court has been uplifting. Yet one crucial detail remains impossible to ignore. In all the Sixers’ posts, the star center has yet to be seen wearing a scrimmage jersey, a reminder that full training is still ahead.

The Sixers’ blue and gray scrimmage jerseys have yet to see Joel Embiid, a clear sign that he remains confined to individual workouts. With Media Day and training camp fast approaching, his return timeline is still unknown, casting uncertainty over Philadelphia’s preseason plans. Without their dominant centerpiece, the team faces serious questions about whether they can remain competitive, while opponents are handed a rare strategic advantage.

Meanwhile, Forbes’ Evan Sidery tweeted, “The Sixers’ star is hoping to finally play a significant amount of games to make them a serious threat in the wide-open Eastern Conference.” Embiid knows that staying healthy and logging more games is the key to lifting the Philadelphia 76ers into true contention in a wide-open East. But the catch here is that the team might let him play in as many games as he can and not load manage much. And with Joel under contract on a 5-year, $301 million extension signed in September 2024, the stakes feel higher than ever.

Now, the Process has battled lower-body troubles from the very start. In 2014, Joel Embiid entered the league with a stress fracture in his right foot, forcing him to sit out the entire 2014-15 rookie season. Then in January 2017, he banged his left knee, sparking swelling and soreness that marked the beginning of another painful chapter.

Since then, surgeries piled up, and the same weak spots kept haunting him. At 31, the toll is clear, and every comeback feels heavier. Yet one strategy stood out in his fight for longevity. Shedding weight became a course of action, a way to keep the body lighter while carrying the weight of expectations.

Joel Embiid’s body transformation seems like the perfect hope for Philly

At 280 lbs, the number fits most seven-footers, but Joel Embiid is a different story. His knees, battered by years of setbacks, can no longer bear that strain deep into his career. So, to ease the pressure and extend his dominance, the Sixers star appears to have embraced a striking physical transformation. Simply put, Embiid has shed noticeable weight this offseason, reshaping his body with purpose.

The impact of this transformation was grand. Experts and insiders of the game swooped in with hopeful eyes. At this point, everyone seemingly wants Embiid back on the floor, and ASAP! Meanwhile, Kevin O’Connor tweeted, “Legit looks good [in photos at least].”

NBA insider Jake Fischer observed Embiid looking “slender, spry, and in positive spirits” just a few days ago. Even more encouraging, he was not wearing his knee brace, hinting that recovery is on track. These signs suggest the star center is embracing his offseason transformation and getting ready to hit the court with renewed energy and confidence.

Thus, Joel Embiid is back in the spotlight, and the buzz is electric. He has trimmed down, looks spry, and carries a spark that lifts the Sixers’ vibe instantly. Yet the return clock teases fans, keeping everyone on edge. As solo workouts turn into full-court dreams, Philly waits with bated breath for their giant to reclaim the throne.