When it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers, there have always been a few questions surrounding their two stars. One of them is the question around Ben Simmons and his jump shot and the other is Joel Embiid’s conditioning.
The Sixers have been working with Simmons to help him add a jumper to his game, but when it comes to conditioning, that is more on a player’s personal responsibility to take care of his body.
After Philadelphia was swept in Round 1 of the playoffs back in August, Embiid took it upon himself to be sure that he is ready and set to go for this upcoming season. This has been a quick turnaround for him and the team from one season to the next so that made it even more important for him to be sure he is in good shape.
“I feel great,” Embiid beamed at camp on Thursday. “This my seventh year. I’m getting up there. I guess I’m getting old. I’ve learned a lot and I feel like this summer is the one that I really focus on it. By just having, you know my own chef, nutritionist, my own PT, and massage therapists, just doing whatever I can to take care of my body so I’m able to play 20 years here in Philly.”
Embiid has learned a lot of lessons in this league, but the biggest thing for him at this point he has to continue to take care of his body and continue to be in good shape for the team and their future. There have been plenty of times in the past where he came up short on the floor due to what appears to be a lack of energy.
So far in camp, he has caught the eye of coach Doc Rivers and guard Furkan Korkmaz about the shape he has come into camp with. Justin Anderson then added how he sees a hungrier Embiid and that is due to him being in better shape and taking on more leadership and responsibility on the team.
“I think that’s the thing I’ve learned the most since I’ve been in the league,” he added. “It was a short time between the end of this past season and this new season, but it’s a work in progress, gotta start somewhere, but you know it’s been going great and I’m still learning every single day.”
Of course, this is a story that fans have all heard before. It is now up to Embiid to go out there and turn his words into some serious action on the floor and guide this team to the championship that they crave. [lawrence-related id=40066,40058,40054]