The Philadelphia 76ers are a popular pick to win the NBA championship this upcoming season, but star center Joel Embiid is likely the key to making that happen.
While the 76ers arguably won the offseason by adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, Embiid is aiming to stay healthy and return to MVP-level form. However, one analyst believes there’s cause for concern after recently observing the big man.
NBA Analyst Calls Out Joel Embiid For Poor Performance in 76ers’ Preseason Loss
League analyst Jason Timpf wasn’t impressed with the 76ers’ performance in their 114-108 preseason loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, specifically calling out Embiid.
“I haven’t loved what I’ve seen from the Sixers so far. There’s been a general lack of defensive intensity. Joel Embiid has looked thin, but not strong,” Timpf said on Monday’s edition of “Hoops Tonight.”
“He looks certainly a hell of a lot thinner, but he’s not moving any better. When you’re thinner and not moving better, what actually is happening is you’re way less physically imposing because now guys have less weight that they have to contend with when you’re throwing your body around.”
Timpf added, “Embiid’s first preseason game was abysmal. It was legitimately one of the worst single-game performances I’ve seen from a superstar in a really long time. Obviously, preseason, it’s not a huge deal, but he looked like a fish out of water.”
Embiid had a forgettable performance against the Nets, scoring 6 points on 1-for-5 shooting. He committed 8 turnovers and finished with a plus-minus of minus-8 in 24 minutes.
Timpf believes the more troubling signs are on the defensive end, where a noticeably lighter Embiid still struggled with mobility and failed to provide interior rim protection.
Embiid appears noticeably trimmed down entering the 2026-27 campaign as he looks to avoid missing time due to his chronic knee issues. At 32, the seven-time All-Star is no longer the defensive presence he was a few years ago, and Timpf believes the weight loss may not help prevent further decline on that end of the floor.
While Embiid is one of the most dominant offensive players in recent memory, it’s possible the 76ers need his defense more this season. The team added James and Brown alongside established franchise player Tyrese Maxey and rising shooting guard VJ Edgecombe.
Philadelphia has four players capable of scoring at least 20 points per game without Embiid’s contributions. Maintaining chemistry will be important, and James and Embiid have already shut down a report alleging a rocky start to their relationship.
While Timpf noted that preseason action isn’t necessarily a sign of trouble, his comments only add to the scrutiny surrounding a 76ers team that projects to be one of the NBA’s biggest talking points throughout the season.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.