Sixers Post Photo of a Slimmer Joel Embiid Working Out

It’s been a brutal last 18 months for 76ers fans who are just looking for any kind of good news to hang their hat on.

On Tuesday, they finally got some.

The 76ers posted a photo on X this week of Joel Embiid working out and shooting baskets. Embiid, whose future timeline was in question given the nature of the knee injury that shut him down last year, looked noticeably thinner in the photos. This was the first piece of evidence that Embiid’s return was imminent and that he could be at training camp in a couple of weeks.

Embiid played just 19 games in 2024-25, and as a result, the 76ers’ season was a trainwreck. The team went just 24-58, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Critics have been on Embiid for his weight, which they feel has led to some of his health issues. But the 31-year-old’s new physique will help silence the doubters heading into the new season. Following his knee surgery, rumors have floated around about just how hard Embiid has been working in the offseason to get himself into playing shape.

Embiid is one of the NBA’s highest-paid players, with a salary expected to top $187 million over the next three seasons. Since 2020, Embiid has averaged over 30 points and rebounds per game. After back-to-back MVP runners-up, Embiid won the award in 2023, establishing himself as the best player in the game that season.

Fans shouldn’t expect to see Embiid play in the 76ers’ first preseason game on October 2. However, it’s looking more and more likely that he will be in the lineup for the team’s opener with the Boston Celtics on October 22.