Sixers Coach Nick Nurse Unsure If Joel Embiid Will Be Ready For Camp

During an interview at a Basketball Without Borders event, Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse revealed that Joel Embiid may not be ready for training camp.

The Sixers go as Embiid goes. The longtime center is a nearly unstoppable force when healthy, effortlessly racking up tons of points and rebounds each game. The problem with Embiid is now, and always will be, his health.

If the Sixers want to win big in 2025-26, they are going to need Embiid back in the lineup. His head coach, though, is unsure if that is going to happen early on in the season.

Nurse told reporters this week:

"All the news is positive. I know he's working very, very hard and I think things look good. Whether he's ready for training camp or not, I think there's maybe a lot more decisions than that to make before we get there."

Embiid is currently recovering from a knee injury for which he had arthroscopic surgery in April of this year. The return time for arthroscopic surgery is typically faster than for other major knee injuries. The former NBA MVP has been rehabbing his knee injury in Philadelphia. While some members of the Sixers are currently practicing at the facility, Embiid is not one of them.

Once Embiid is healthy, the Sixers have the look of a loaded team. They return stars Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. The team is expected to return Quentin Grimes, who starred at the end of the season. Jared McCain, who looked like a future star last season, will be back from injury, and the team will also boast No. 3 overall pick V.J. Edgecombe.