While TO's critiques of Embiid’s conditioning ring true, the MVP’s durability struggle involves a nuanced battle between elite preparation, brutal injury luck, and the Philadelphia 76ers' excessive postseason demands.
NFL legend Terrell Owens knows what elite physical preparation looks like.
That is why his recent comments about Joel Embiid on 97.5 The Fanatic are worth discussing, even if they should not be treated as the whole story. Owens’ general point was that Embiid needs to take more serious care of his body if he wants to maximize what is left of his career.
It isn't hard to understand where that criticism comes from.
Embiid did not look right against the New York Knicks. He looked heavy-legged, slower getting back into plays, and less capable of covering space than he was at his peak. The Knicks recognized it quickly. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns repeatedly put him in pick-and-roll actions, forcing him to defend in space and make decisions outside of his comfort zone.
When Embiid is healthy, drop coverage can work because he is big, smart, strong, and difficult to finish over. But when his movement is limited, that same coverage can become a target. Brunson was able to get to his spots, Towns stretched the floor, and New York put Philadelphia’s defense in frantic rotations.
So yes, if Owens watched that series and thought Embiid’s body needed to be in a better place, he was not lying.
The issue is how that criticism is framed.
There is a difference between saying Embiid’s body has failed him and saying Embiid has been lazy with his body. The first statement is obvious. The second is much harder to defend.
Embiid’s career has been shaped by brutal injury luck. He missed his first two NBA seasons because of foot injuries. He has dealt with knee problems, orbital fractures, a torn meniscus, Bell’s palsy, and repeated playoff injuries that would have ended most players' careers.
That does not excuse everything. Embiid and the Sixers have to be honest about where his body is now. He is no longer at a stage where Philadelphia can assume he will play 65 games, dominate both ends, and enter the playoffs moving like his MVP version. His training, conditioning, workload, diet, recovery process, and regular-season usage all have to be handled with extreme care.
But “care” does not mean blame.
Embiid has played through injuries that many players would not have attempted to play through. He returned from a torn meniscus. He played through facial injuries. He has repeatedly tried to force his way into playoff games because Philadelphia needed him. If anything, part of the problem may be that the Sixers have too often asked him to keep dragging weak teams through postseason series when his body was already breaking down.
Owens is right that Embiid’s body has to be treated as the main issue of the franchise. The Sixers cannot build another season around blind optimism. They need better frontcourt depth, more athleticism behind him, and a roster that does not require Embiid to solve every problem.
But it is unfair to make the discussion sound like Embiid simply has not cared enough.
Join The 76ersRoundtable
Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button under the featured story... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
