Joel Embiid watched the Philadelphia 76ers make the biggest splash of free agency by landing LeBron James.
The 22-time NBA All-Star’s arrival is expected to reshape the franchise, especially after its earlier offseason addition of Jaylen Brown. However, Embiid confused many by nonchalantly sharing bold playoff ambitions that had nothing to do with the 76ers.
Joel Embiid Offers Ambiguous Playoff Take After LeBron James’ Blockbuster Addition to 76ers
James sacrificed a larger payday to compete alongside Embiid, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe. He hardly needs an introduction, as the four-time NBA champion has built one of the greatest résumés in league history. While he is no longer the MVP-caliber force he was in his prime, the 41-year-old remains widely regarded as one of the NBA’s top 20 players.
Brown also brings elite credentials to Philadelphia, as he is one of the league’s most dependable two-way stars. He has averaged at least 20 points per game in each of the past seven seasons.
Meanwhile, Maxey continued his rapid ascent in the 2025-26 campaign by earning All-NBA Third Team honors, while Edgecombe enjoyed a promising rookie season that landed him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
The 76ers now boast one of the league’s most talented starting lineups, and Embiid has every reason to be excited about what lies ahead.
However, as the 2026-27 season is still months away, Embiid appears busy watching baseball and shared a bullish take after the Philadelphia Phillies suffered a heartbreaking 8-7 walk-off loss to the Miami Marlins on Monday.
Despite the Phillies falling to a Marlins team that entered the night riding a franchise-record 12-game losing streak, Embiid confidently weighed in on their postseason outlook.
“I have a GOOD feeling about October…. The playoffs are gonna be FUN!!!!” Embiid tweeted Monday.
I have a GOOD feeling about October…. The playoffs are gonna be FUN!!!!
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 28, 2026
Many assumed Embiid was referring to the 76ers, even though the NBA playoffs are nowhere near October. Baseball supporters quickly realized he was talking about the Phillies and took the post as a vote of confidence that the club can recover from its disappointing loss.
Embiid’s optimism for Philadelphia’s baseball team could also reflect his own confidence heading into the upcoming NBA season. The former MVP will be looking to return to the dominant level he displayed during the 2023-24 campaign, when he averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.
The biggest obstacle has always been Embiid’s health, as he has battled a long list of injuries, including knee problems and thumb surgery throughout his career. These untimely setbacks have repeatedly interrupted both his regular seasons and playoff runs.
Embiid has never appeared in 70 games in a single regular season. He was limited to just 38 outings this past season after suiting up in only 19 contests the year before.
If he enters the 2026-27 campaign fully healthy, the 76ers could once again have one of the NBA’s most dominant forces in the middle.
Embiid will turn 33 next season, but when healthy, he remains one of basketball’s most unstoppable players and routinely commands double-teams. Philadelphia’s challenge will now be building chemistry between Embiid, James, Brown, and Maxey to maximize the championship potential of its star-studded roster.
