Joel Embiid is focused on winning basketball, not individual accolades

As a part of the team’s Media Day ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season, Joel Embiid took the stage for his moment to address the various media members before him.

Embiid discussed various topics, from the passing of NBA legend and well-known humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo to the correlation between his Olympic experience and his ability to play alongside his fellow stars Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. When asked by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer to speak about the current state of his health, Embiid discussed where he is at, where he would like to be, and what he is focused on—along with what he is not focused on—heading into the upcoming season.

“I think I lost about 30 or 25, 30 [pounds], so I still got a ways to go,” Embiid said. “[I] still want to lose more, but it’s a process, I think, for me. And, you know, Daryl will tell you this, as soon as we lost last year, I just texted him. I was like, we gotta do whatever it takes to make sure that, for [the] postseason, I’m healthy… It’s whatever it takes to make sure that I get to that point, that I’m ready to go.”

In past years, claims have been made that Embiid was hyper-fixated on being named the league MVP, on stat chasing, and so on. It would be a step too far to say that Embiid is acknowledging the legitimacy of those claims. What he is simply stating is that individual accolades, whether they be MVP, All-NBA, or All-Star appearances, are no longer a part of the equation for him.

It’s a noble thought. Whether or not he follows through with that idea will be seen by his actions throughout the season, while likely being constantly discussed by fans and media members at both the local and national levels.

Embiid continued to relay his understanding of the importance of his health and how it relates to the team’s chances of realizing their goal of an NBA Championship.

“I believe every single [year] for the past, basically every single [year of] my career, I’ve been hurt in the playoffs. So that’s the goal, whatever it takes to get there. Physically, I’m okay. I’m not where I want to be, and I know that I got the support. And they all want the same thing. So, until I’m at that point where they feel like I’m ready to go, I’m sure they’re gonna hold me back. So I think, like I said, [the] focus is on wanting to get to that stage and be healthy. Because I believe with the guys that we have, with what I can bring to the table, we have a pretty good chance.”