CAMDEN, NJ — The Philadelphia 76ers will start their season tomorrow night against the Milwaukee Bucks. The team announced on Tuesday morning that stars Joel Embiid and Paul George would miss the season opener and, at least in Embiid’s case, more. This made the Sixers’ Tuesday afternoon practice an all-too-important opportunity to gain clarity on the situation.
Heading into the season, the availability of Embiid became progressively less clear. Despite an “individual treatment plan” that the team said was “designed to best support his health and wellness for the 2024-25 season.”
Well, the start of the 2024-2025 season is here, and Joel Embiid is not.
After the team’s Tuesday morning practice, Nick Nurse addressed the media, and the consistent topic was, unsurprisingly, Joel Embiid.
“They’re evaluating [Embiid and George] here as we go,” Nurse said. “As soon as we can get them out there and get them scrimmaging and get them ramped up, we’ll get them in the action.”
Sixers fans are surely sick of the phrase “ramp up,” but that remains the current plan for both Sixers stars. Nurse remains confident in the decision and continues to trust the process, as it were.
“I think we’re being really smart and sticking to the plan with Joel,” said Nurse. “PG, obviously, him not playing was certainly not part of the plan. [George] had an injury in a game, so we’re managing that now.”
As for why Embiid continues to “ramp up” and is not ready for the season, Nurse explained the why, or rather the why not, behind Embiid’s continued absence.
“No, there’s been no setbacks. He’s really active. He’s lost some weight. He’s out on the court, etc. [We’re] just kind of sticking with our plan of making sure we’re getting him in a really good place before we get him playing live.”
It’s encouraging, the notion that there have been no setbacks, but it begs further questioning. Why is the ramp-up, a predesigned plan, lasting into the regular season? When pressed on this, Nurse responded curtly:
“I don’t know what to say to you. He’s in practice. He’s looking good. He’s progressing. He’s not quite ready yet. He’ll be ready pretty soon. I don’t know what else to say to you.”
Nurse then confirmed to PSN that the ramp-up is “fluid” and that there is not a specific date in place, but rather the length is dependent on the team’s evaluation of Embiid, not from just a medical standpoint, but conditioning as well.
In defense of Embiid, he has made himself visible after practice as of late. Not available, but visible in workouts with coach Rico Hines. We’ve been able to see firsthand that he is working, that he, by what the naked eye can tell you, is at least in relative shape—though basketball shape is certainly different, and yet he is unavailable for the season opener.
Who knows exactly what the Sixers’ initial strategy was with this “individual treatment plan” and whether the Paul George injury threw a wrench into the equation, but it certainly can be said that it’s a far less-than-ideal start to the season for the Sixers. Regardless, Tyrese Maxey feels ready to lead this team without his costars, and Philadelphia will certainly be watching closely.
