For all the great things that the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid has done on the basketball court, the first thing that pops into most fans’ heads when they think about him is still his vast injury history.

The 2023 NBA MVP is also a two-time NBA scoring champion and seven-time NBA All-Star, yet even these achievements vastly undersell how good he truly is. Standing at 7’0 and weighing 280 lbs, Embiid is a physical force of nature, but what sets him apart is how mobile he is at his size and the wide array of things that he can do with a basketball in his hands.

Embiid is the only player in this era whose abilities even comes close to the Denver Nuggets’ three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and had he been any healthier, this could have been a rivalry for the ages.

Instead, Embiid has had to struggle with injuries throughout his career that have held him back from joining the game’s all-time greats. After missing the entirety of what should have been his first two seasons with a broken foot, Embiid finally debuted in ‘16-’17 but appeared in only 31 games. This set the tone for the next years, as he struggled to stay on the court. The most games that he has played in a season so far is 68 (‘21-’22) and he has only exceeded the 60-game mark in four of his 10 campaigns.

Since winning the NBA MVP award in 2023, Embiid’s health has only deteriorated further. He played in only 39 games in ‘23-’24 due to a knee injury, limped through the 2024 Paris Olympics, then suited up just 19 times in ‘24-’25 because of more knee-related concerns. His availability has been on-and-off once again this season, though what’s encouraging is that his games played count of 24 has already exceeded his total from last year.

Unsurprisingly, Embiid began this season with a minutes restriction to manage his knee injury. Early on, he looked like a shell of himself, but as the season has progressed, he has steadily begun to resemble the dominant player that he once was–and the Sixers are suddenly a dark horse to win the East. 

This January has been Embiid’s best month of the season so far, with averages of 27.2 points on 53.7% shooting, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 10 games. He has been even better in his last three outings, turning back the clock with three consecutive 30-point games. His most recent performance was his best one in years as he put up 32 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal, and a block in the Sixers’ overtime win over the Houston Rockets. 

The most encouraging takeaway from this win over the Rockets though is that he managed to play a whopping 45 minutes–the most he has played in a single game since 2022.

Embiid may never live up to his full potential at this point, but if he can stay even just relatively healthy in these next few years, he still has a chance to rewrite his story–especially if he can help Philadelphia win the NBA championship. His mere presence on the court can still elevate Philadelphia from a fringe playoff team into a contender as he remains a two-way force that not many opposing teams have a direct answer for. 

The overall health of Embiid remains a big “If” though. Embiid is now rounding into form, but Philadelphia must tread carefully if they want him on the floor when it matters most in the postseason.