As Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid continues to battle the effects of Father Time and the many injuries he has suffered throughout his career, it is time for the Sixers' star to enter the next stage of his career, rather than clinging to the embers of the past.
There are admittedly few things in life more difficult than acknowledging the hard truths of one's own morality. That first gray hair, the day one no longer looks forward to their birthday, or when one begins waking up with back pain more often than not. For many, these are signals that one is gradually entering their next life stage, a frightening concept, but also an opportunity, if taken in stride.
For professional athletes, little is more terrifying than seeing the end of their road ahead of them. Not just the end of their career, but before that, the end of their prime — when an athlete is at their physical and performative peak. That is especially the case when one's time is cut short by ongoing injuries.
Embiid has attempted to work his way back from a torn meniscus for nearly two years. The journey has been long and painful, and despite all the work he has put in to transform his body, the results have been inconsistent, to put it mildly.
At best, Embiid shows flashes of his past dominance. On any given night, he can hit his signature turnaround mid-range fadeaway, reminding all of the days when Embiid was truly one of the most impressive offensive forces the NBA has seen. On other nights, the shot may not be there, but he may show more mobility, evoking memories of the defensive dominance he enjoyed early in his career. He has yet to display both for an extended period since his injury, though his 2023 playoff performance was truly dominant despite multiple ailments, making for one of the gutsiest performances in franchise history.
What Embiid has shown in his 28 games since the start of last season is that he is no longer the MVP candidate he once was, but he also has the opportunity to transform his game for his own sake and for the Sixers if he's willing to take it in stride.
Embiid has spoken at length about his struggles with the inconsistency of his own availability and how it impacts his performance. Following the Sixers' matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, Dec. 7, he spoke at length about these struggles from the team's locker room after the game.
"I think it all comes down to just getting back in the rhythm, playing every day," Embiid said. "It's hard just being in and out, but you've got to do it; every single day."
Embiid also acknowledged the team's overarching strategy for his health, both in the short term and the next stage in his recovery process.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Embiid noted. "Like I said, it's all about getting that rhythm and playing every other day. I think we're getting there. The plan they have me on is playing and two days off in between and playing again and it's working pretty well. So hopefully that keeps going and we can start doing it every other day."
The Sixers and Embiid seem to have plans in place for what it will take for the former MVP to improve the consistency of his availability, and that plan may very well work, but the team and Embiid need to understand the franchise's current needs, and how by playing within that role, Embiid can both prolong his career and continue to be an impactful player.
It's not to assert that Embiid cannot display the dominance he once had in a game here or there, but rather that the organization's needs have changed. They do not need Embiid to force himself to play like an MVP candidate, dominating possession after possession; they have a player capable of bearing the brunt of the offensive responsibility in Tyrese Maxey. That playstyle also adds to the strain on Embiid's body, contributing to his inconsistent appearances.
What the Sixers need from Embiid is also not what many fans — particularly those who proudly remember an era in which centers lived exclusively in the paint — have demanded throughout Embiid's career. He will not be the ultimate big body in the middle, no, should he. It not only puts his body at further risk but also undermines his highly versatile skillset.
Instead of trying to return to his previous form, it's time for Joel Embiid to trust a new process and become the ultimate role player.
Embiid has shown flashes of the ideal role for him moving forward, one that sees him operate as an offensive hub at the elbow, not simply as a shooter, but as a player who has the skills to dish the ball accurately from the nail, work two-man actions, be they Pick and Rolls (PnR), Pick and Pops (PnP) or Dribble Handoffs (DHOs) that can be run with any of the Sixers' assortment of talented guards.
He will rarely impact the game as a particularly strong rebounder — the hands, the hustle, the ghosts of injuries past prevent consistent commitment to these key factors in that area. Still, Embiid can still be an impactful defensive deterrent, preventing the opposition's transition offense from creating easy opportunities, and defending the rim in the half-court
As for whose career path Embiid should emulate, the conversation has often centered on whether his next chapter will mirror the late-career trajectories of Tim Duncan or Brook Lopez, who adapted their games to prolong their careers. Even a player like Wilt Chamberlain, who transformed from an elite scoring weapon into a defensive specialist toward the end of his career, is occasionally referenced due to his strong passing ability, a trait he and Embiid share.
Instead of following the example of any one of these former great centers, Embiid should focus on setting his own standard for late-career transformations. One that utilizes all of his remaining skills, from his shooting touch to passing ability and intimidating pressing, protecting the rim; a late-career archetype that players will one day hope to emulate. And more importantly, one that will help contribute to the Sixers' goal of winning the NBA Finals without undermining the impressive growth and performance seen by Tyrese Maxey and the rest of the team's roster.
