I always hate writing in season about the Sixers because I am superstitious. It is silly to be superstitious about a team who hasn’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since before I knew what the word superstitious meant. 

(I kid you not I began writing this on Friday. And then the next day it was announced that Paul George would be suspended 25 games.)

This isn’t a new idea to consider. Zach Lowe talked about it last week. Many Philly writers have shared the same sentiment. Hell, even Bill Simmons said nice things. 

Joel Embiid is playing awesome basketball.

It was almost a year ago when Embiid told Lisa Salters he’d likely need another surgery. It was hours before the Eagles would lead the Super Bowl 34-0. Surgery didn’t happen right away. The season was long over, but the final nail in the coffin happened on February 22, 2025. Embiid scored 14 points on 13 shots in a two-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets. He was bad. It was rock bottom. He played 19 games all season. He made more than 50 percent of his shots in three games. Would we ever see Embiid play at a high level again? 

His season began with a stinker in Boston. He couldn’t do anything against Nikola Vucevic in crunch time a week later in Chicago. The lift wasn’t there. Any excitement about the Sixers was due to VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey taking another step to super stardom. In early December he made four shots on 21 attempts in a four-point loss to the Lakers. The next game he played, without Maxey in the fold, Embiid erupted for 39 points in a win over Indiana. Since that putrid Lakers performance, Embiid has played 19 games. The Sixers have outscored opponents by 118 points in his minutes. His midrange jumper feels automatic. He’s making more threes. He has dunked the ball. Several times. 

In January, Embiid averaged 29.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, while shooting 53.7 percent from the field.

Limitations remain. It’s difficult to trust his rebounding, especially on the defensive glass. And his overall comfort level on defense. It’s a work in progress. 

For a while, I only thought playoff basketball mattered. That’s supposedly when you make your legacy. There is truth to it, of course. Tenfold for Embiid because his playoff success is even more stunted. But right now, watching Embiid play basketball at this level gives me peace. The other night he said how happy he is playing basketball and how he won’t take it for granted. You feel that when he’s on the court. He’s engaged. He expresses joy. It’s a reminder that no matter how his career ends, it’s nice to see him dominate once more.

Embiid scored 40 points during Saturday’s win over the Pelicans. It’s the first time he scored that many in a regular season game since an unfathomable 70 two Januarys ago. 

There will always be a sense of uneasiness. A belief that this player who hasn’t been able to stay healthy can stay healthy. It is warranted. Any concerns are valid. But honestly, who cares? 

For right now, Embiid is back.