More alarmingly, the Sixers lost Embiid's court time by a total of 16 points. Sure, he has turned in worse plus-minus performances over the course of his career. But this is the first time Philly was minus-16 or worse with him in the game when he played under 21 minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid labeled “done” by Bill Simmons after loss to Boston Celtics in season opener.

Shannon Sharpe weighs in on Joel Embiid's poor opening day performance and what that could mean for the rest of his season.

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid gets put on blast by NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal ahead of the his season opening game.

Philly is without Paul George and Jared McCain due to injury, so having Embiid on the court is a big deal. But if he looks like this, it could be tough to watch at times. There's a lot of season left. Embiid could look just fine. Fans of the 76ers certainly hope he does. But he also could've gotten off to a better start.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/76ers as Joel Embiid Projection Would Put 76ers on Right Path Again. The 2025-2026 NBA season commences in less than a week. After an offseason of major trades and draft selections, the landscape of the league is going to look a bit different from last year.

The Philadelphia 76ers' success this season hinges on Joel Embiid's ability to stay healthy and return to his old form.