By Joseph Galizia,The SportsRush

Copyright yardbarker

76ers fans know how much Embiid means to their chances. They still have Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and Quentin Grimes, but without Embiid, they are just not the same team. He’s generational, a seven-footer with great post play, an elite midrange game, and strong passing ability.

So far, there’s no official timeline for Embiid’s return either. Training camp updates have been quiet. The Sixers front office is making it clear they want him fully healthy before he steps back on the floor. Nobody is rushing this. Not after last year, which seemed eerily similar to this past offseason.

That patience makes sense. The Sixers have seen what happens when Embiid tries to push through pain. It doesn’t end well. With his injury history, there’s no point in risking long-term damage. The team is basically looking at the 2025-26 season as a reset button.

The money side of things is what makes this whole situation wild. Fans see $2.7 million per game and shake their heads.

Imagine getting paid that much while sitting out 63 nights in street clothes. It’s the business side of the NBA, and Embiid just happened to benefit from it last season. For NBA fans, they can forgive him a bit since he helped Team USA get the Gold in Paris, but for Sixers fans in particular, it’s rough.

It also puts pressure on Embiid. That kind of money comes with big expectations. The City of Brotherly Love is waiting for the MVP version of Embiid to come back. The one who drops 40 points and dominates both ends. Anything less, and those salary numbers will feel like a joke.

So now all eyes are on the Sixers and their star center. The team is keeping things low-key. The fans are hoping for a comeback. And Embiid himself has to prove that last year was just a blip, not the start of a decline. The story isn’t over, but it needs a big next chapter.