The Philadelphia 76ers are coming into the 2026-27 season with championship expectations, and crew president Mike Gansey believes a wholesome Joel Embiid will probably be on the heart of all of it.
“Joel is nice,” Gansey stated in an interview with ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi on Thursday. “That is like the primary summer season I believe shortly that he’s been wholesome, so he’s been within the health club understanding. He’s been lifting weights. He’s further motivated. He desires to play a number of video games, and he’s excited concerning the group we’ve constructed now.
“Even earlier than these trades and LeBron, I believe he was excited. So he’s motivated to have a great 12 months and he’s able to go.”
Philadelphia’s roster seems to be dramatically totally different after including LeBron James in free company and buying Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster commerce, giving the Sixers one of many league’s most proficient beginning lineups. Gansey believes the problem will now be ensuring everybody sacrifices for the better purpose.
“Any given evening, anybody may be the man,” Gansey stated. “So I believe sacrifice will probably be large for us. However Joel is arguably the most effective and most proficient large I’ve ever been round. … He’s going to be an enormous piece to our success. We now have LeBron and Jaylen, however Joel’s going to be as essential as these guys.
“LeBron’s had a number of utilization his entire profession, however final 12 months [with] the Lakers with Luka [Doncic] out, he was the man. Jaylen final 12 months with [Jayson] Tatum out, he was the man. VJ and Tyrese did loads outdoors of when Joel performs or doesn’t play. So everybody’s been used to that for his or her profession, however I believe getting all of them collectively, in camp, in apply, they’re all going to learn from one another.”
One of many greatest questions surrounding Embiid stays his availability after he performed simply 38 regular-season video games final season earlier than battling by way of a number of accidents throughout the playoffs.
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