Luka Doncic is not the only NBA player who decided to get in shape before the new season. Joel Embiid, from the Philadelphia 76ers, did the same and surprised fans with a transformation that could boost his performance on the court this year.
The 76ers had a disappointing 2024–25 season. However, they opened the new campaign by adding Paul George and Jared McCain, who will provide valuable support for superstar center Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey.
A chance to return stronger
According to Athlonsports, injuries sidelined Joel Embiid for most of last season. He only played 19 games. Persistent knee problems prevented him from performing at his best and took a heavy toll.
Joel Embiid looking slim at Sixers practice today 👀
via @sixers pic.twitter.com/z2l22OIw32— ProphetX Hoops (@ProphetXHoops) September 16, 2025
Even though it’s unlikely he will regain his full physical capacity, his transformation may help him raise his level. In 2024, Embiid admitted: “If I had to guess, I’d probably never play back-to-back games again in my career.”
Now, after months of recovery, he seems to be in his best physical shape. On Monday, new photos of Embiid training went viral on social media, showing a much leaner figure.
Fans quickly reacted to the images with comments such as:
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“Joel is making it impossible for haters to call him overweight.”
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“He looks slim.”
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“I mean, it looks like he dropped another 25–30 pounds, right?”
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“JoJo looks skinny.”
A stronger Sixers team
As long as Joel Embiid stays healthy, the 76ers have a star who makes them one of the most competitive teams in the East. This season, he seems ready to improve his stats and give everything to his team. With the addition of rookies VJ Edgecombe and Johni Broome, Philadelphia looks stronger than last year.
