close
close

Joel Embiid will “take a step back” to share the Sixers’ scoring output

After an offseason filled with acquisitions that resulted in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey becoming the 76’s longest-tenured players, fans should expect to see even more of the team’s newest faces as the season approaches.

If Monday’s media day was an accurate indication, fans should also expect to see less of Embiid – sort of.

“My job this year and what I really want to focus on is empowering these guys,” Embiid said during the team’s annual media day at the team’s headquarters in Camden. “I will (take over) when I have to. If it means I have to score a few points at some point then I’ll do it, but most of the time I really want to focus on letting the game come to me. I think in years past I had to (take over) because we didn’t necessarily have the manpower to take a step back and (still) put us in a position to win, but I feel like this year with the guys we added (maybe take a step back step).”

» READ MORE: Tyrese Maxey has become a “fundamental piece” of the Sixers franchise, but he wants more

There’s already less of Embiid to see.

The Sixers All-Star center, who signed a three-year contract extension last month for a maximum of $192.9 million, said he lost about “25-30 pounds” in the offseason.

The weight loss and shift in focus appear to align with a text message Embiid sent to president of basketball operations Daryl Morey after the Sixers were eliminated in the playoffs by the New York Knicks last season.

“We have to do everything we can to make sure I’m healthy after the season,” recalled Embiid, who texted Morey. “So this year it’s about…whatever it takes to make sure I get to the playoffs and be ready because I think basically every year of my career I’ve been injured in the playoffs….”

Just last season, Embiid missed two months of the regular season after Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga fell on Embiid’s left knee.

In the playoffs against the Knicks, Embiid also revealed that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, which caused migraines, blurred vision and facial paralysis.

In previous seasons that included the playoffs, Embiid suffered a right facial orbital fracture, a torn right thumb ligament, a partially torn meniscus in his right knee and a left orbital fracture with an associated concussion.

» READ MORE: The Sixers, the NBA community and beyond remember Dikembe Mutombo as an “incredible man” and a “true humanitarian”

The addition of Paul George, Reggie Jackson and Caleb Martin could significantly reduce Embiid’s offense. The same will apply to the further promotion of Maxey, who in the summer agreed to a five-year contract extension with a maximum value of $204 million.

The Sixers also strengthened their frontcourt by adding backup center Andre Drummond, who has provided rebounding power for years.

“Listen,” coach Nick Nurse said, “I think (Drummond is) a really talented guy. I think there’s more to it than just seeing him as a guy who has 10 defensive rebounds a game. I think he can do even more.”

Nurse also praised Drummond’s defensive tenacity and versatility.

The Sixers also added Guerschon Yabusele, a 6-foot-10 forward who rose to Olympic fame during France’s run to a silver medal in Paris.

Nurse said Yabusele would have a chance to “impact the rotation” as a power forward, but perhaps also as a center in a small-ball lineup.

With more frontcourt depth and overall more offensive firepower, Embiid’s role could change. For now, it seems fine to him, with one caveat.

» READ MORE: Dikembe Mutombo, the Sixers’ most underrated great and Joel Embiid’s role model, dies at 58

“Like I’ve said in the past, I felt like I had to (take over),” Embiid said. “This year I don’t think I’ll have to do it unless I have to. So I really have a lot of confidence in these guys that they will understand this and I will use myself as bait to let them be themselves and be good at what they do best.

He later added: “The Olympics were great fun. I finally won something. I finally made it to the conference finals and won something. … Winning is great. As long as we win, it doesn’t matter what role we take.”