PHILADELPHIA — Two years after dominating the league and one season after serving as a cautionary tale for how quickly fortunes can change, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is healthy again and performing at an All-Star level as the 2025-26 campaign moves past its midway point.
Embiid, hailed as the NBA’s best player just two seasons ago, spent much of last year battling injuries that limited his availability and effectiveness. The setbacks turned what had been a rapid ascent into a reminder of the fragility of NBA superstardom.
This season, the 7-footer has appeared in the vast majority of Philadelphia’s games and is once again anchoring both ends of the floor. Team officials say Embiid entered training camp fully cleared by medical staff and has shown no lingering effects from last year’s ailments.
His renewed durability has vaulted the 76ers back into the Eastern Conference race and has positioned Embiid for a likely return to the league’s mid-season showcase. With voting underway for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, the center’s name is once more prominent on ballots and in conversations about the league’s elite.
Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse has repeatedly credited Embiid’s offseason conditioning and disciplined game-day routine for the turnaround. The coaching staff also points to a measured workload designed to preserve the star’s health deep into the spring.
While Embiid has declined to discuss individual awards, he has made clear that his goal is to reclaim the spot he once held atop the NBA hierarchy. For now, the numbers and the eye test suggest the 29-year-old is firmly back in that conversation.
Source: New York Post
