.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
Since the calendar flipped from 2025 to 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers have struggled mightily in games missed by star center Joel Embiid.
As a team, the Sixers are just 1-6 in games that Embiid has missed this year, and following Philadelphia’s 117-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night, star guard Tyrese Maxey opened up about the team’s struggles without Embiid.
Maxey admitted that altering his role depending on the big fella’s availability has been difficult since the Sixers play a different style of ball when Embiid is out on the floor compared to when he isn’t.
"It definitely is playing multiple styles of basketball,” Maxey said. “That's why I said for myself, like a couple games ago. Like, it's weird, you know, I’ve had a successful year, but I’ve played three different roles. You know what I mean? And that's difficult, but it comes with it sometimes.”
More: Joel Embiid makes promising prediction regarding his health
This has always been an underdiscussed issue when it comes to Embiid’s availability, or lack thereof. When he’s available, he’s excellent, but it’s difficult for his teammates and coaches to consistently go into games not knowing whether or not the big man is going to be available.
It’s been a bit of a taboo topic in the Sixers locker room, but it’s a real issue, and one that basically no other team has to deal with. Sure, other star players get injured, but no other elite player has a status as consistently nebulous as Embiid.
Despite the inherent difficulty that comes with Embiid’s fluctuating status, Maxey doesn’t want to use that as an excuse for the team’s poor play in the big man’s absence.
"That's not an excuse that you can use," Maxey said. "You gotta go out there with what we have out there and try to win games. Like, we're in the games, have chances to win, playing, bad a hell of a third quarter, slow start to the fourth quarter, and just couldn't recover."
Sixers reserve center Andre Drummond expressed a similar sentiment to Maxey when discussing Embiid’s availability, though Drummond is confident that the Sixers can still be better when the former MVP doesn’t play.
"I think when Joel plays, he just demands a lot," Drummond said. "I think it’s hard to switch that off when he’s not around. So, I think for us, it’s just finding a way to get out of that mindset of having the big dog around and where a lot of other guys have to step up and play different roles when he isn’t around.
“So, it’s something I think all of us can fix. It’s not something that’s gonna hinder us too much. I think it’s just something we just have to work through."
Obviously the Sixers will need Embiid healthy and available if they're going to make any noise in the Eastern Conference this season, but it would be nice if they could figure out how to win some games without him in the meantime. Otherwise, it could be difficult for them to even qualify for postseason play.
More Philadelphia 76ers news:
English (US)