Joel Embiid expects to be ready for 76ers training camp
By John Buhler
After playing in only 31 games during his rookie season, Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid expects that he’ll be ready for training camp this fall.
After a painstaking rebuild for the last half decade, it seems that the Philadelphia 76ers could be one of the better teams in a bad Eastern Conference. Though this team is young, they have the raw talent to make a charge this winter. On player that the 76ers have to lean on is star center Joel Embiid.
Embiid had an unforgettable rookie season with the 2016-17 Sixers. He may have only played in 31 games, but his offensive abilities have him hyped as an evolutionary Hakeem Olajuwon. Embiid told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears that he fully expects to be back in time for 76ers training camp this fall. It was a knee injury that kept Embiid from appearing in even half of the 76ers games a year ago.
He told Spears, “I can do everything but play 5-on-5 and one-on-one. I think I will be ready for training camp.” Since Embiid injured the meniscus in his knee towards the middle of the season, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him be a full participant in the 76ers offseason.
However, his injury-riddled past could have the 76ers pumping the brakes on a raucous return to the hardwood for the young Embiid. The 76ers will continue to Trust The Process. They have to. If Embiid isn’t cleared for full-contact practice in camp, it’s not the end of the world.
The key part here is for him to develop a rapport with the new pieces coming in and the young core in general. Embiid played his rookie season with power forward Dario Saric and has spent time with small forward Ben Simmons in the facility.
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Philadelphia traded up to draft Washington Huskies point guard Markelle Fultz at No. 1 in the 2017 NBA Draft. The 76ers also landed two big-name free agents this summer in shooting guard J.J. Redick and power forward Amir Johnson. Those guys are total pros. This 76ers team might be finally coming together.