PHILADELPHIA — For the primary time in practically eight months, Joel Embiid performed in a basketball sport for the 76ers.
Though it was a preseason sport towards the Minnesota Timberwolves reserves, Embiid and the 76ers got here away from the 126-110 win at Xfinity Cell Enviornment feeling good about the place their famous person is at heading into the 2025-26 common season.
“I believe the largest factor that I felt was simply pleasure and simply how joyful he was to be on the market and the way joyful I used to be for him to be on the market,” stated Tyrese Maxey, who had 27 factors in half-hour in Philadelphia’s ultimate tuneup earlier than the common season begins subsequent week.
“The very first thing I requested him earlier than we went on the market, I used to be like, ‘Hey, are you excited?’ He was like, ‘Man, I am so excited simply to be on the market to play.’ So I am joyful for him.”
Embiid hadn’t performed for the 76ers since Feb. 22 towards the Brooklyn Nets earlier than having arthroscopic surgical procedure on his troublesome left knee just a few weeks later.
However after working towards for the previous a number of weeks — and enjoying in Sunday’s open to the general public intrasquad scrimmage — Embiid took the ground Friday night time and had an encouraging efficiency, ending with 18:35 of sport time with 14 factors, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 4 turnovers on 5-for-10 taking pictures, together with 2-for-4 from 3-point vary, in addition to hitting each of his free throws.
“I do not need to actually take into consideration the previous,” Embiid stated. “I am simply in an excellent house mentally, bodily. … I am simply joyful to the touch the basketball and have the ability to play basketball and do what I like.
“When you aren’t getting [to do] that, it is powerful, however that is what I am most joyful about. So immediately, tonight, that is all I saved fascinated about. I am on the court docket enjoying basketball, performing some good issues, serving to us win, and yeah, that is actually what I used to be centered on.”
Embiid, who seems to be leaner, appeared to haven’t any points transferring round on the court docket and appeared to have shed the cumbersome brace he was utilizing — and annoyed by — final season.
By the point it was over, he had handed his newest take a look at in his hopes to get again to the place he was earlier than the knee points despatched his profession offtrack.
“Fairly good,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse stated, when requested for his evaluation of Embiid’s efficiency. “I believed he moved good, performed good, shot it good, handed it good. … I did not see too many negatives on the market.”
Embiid performed in solely 19 video games final season. Whereas he averaged 23.8 factors, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in that restricted motion, he by no means regarded just like the participant who was going forwards and backwards with Nikola Jokic for MVP awards throughout the prior three seasons.
He regarded rather more like himself Friday night time and stays on monitor — barring any setbacks from enjoying towards Minnesota — to take part in subsequent week’s season opener in Boston.
“I imply, I will not say I really feel like I used to be 18 years outdated once more,” Embiid stated with a smile, when requested if he felt just like the previous few weeks have gone in addition to may very well be anticipated in his ramp-up to the season. “That is by no means going to occur. However I am simply taking it day-to-day. Like I stated, simply studying. Some days are going to be good, some days I’ll be a bit of bit tight, so be taught from it and regulate and maintain doing the proper issues.”
Even past Embiid, the 76ers had just a few issues to be enthusiastic about Friday night time. VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 decide in June’s NBA draft, had 26 factors, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals in 34 minutes, creating a number of spotlight performs together with his athleticism and reaffirming Nurse’s pregame assertion that Edgecombe is ticketed for a spot within the beginning 5 subsequent week.
Quentin Grimes, in the meantime, made his preseason debut after signing the one-year $8.7 million qualifying supply to finish his restricted free company a few weeks in the past and completed with 22 factors, 5 assists and three steals in 26 minutes off the bench.
One participant who did not return Friday and does not appear on monitor to play opening night time is Paul George, who continues to be working his means again from knee surgical procedure in July. Whereas George has continued to ramp up his exercise stage, together with taking part in practices this week, he nonetheless has just a few steps to clear earlier than returning.
