Joel Embiid is "ready to go" for the 76ers' opener, Nick Nurse said: "Some of those things weren't going on a year ago." Dean Wade, Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall did not practice. Wade wore a practice jersey anyway. "Shouldn't make any judgments by those jerseys," Nurse said.
Dean Wade turned his ankle "a little bit" in the 76ers' Oct. 16 game, LeBron James said, "but he'll be great." On Joel Embiid, who wasn't healthy with Team USA, James said: "this summer, he's been the most healthy he's been a long time... he's been in all the practices."
The 76ers' Joel Embiid blamed his preseason falls on trips and pushes: "I'm just trying to do a better job to stay on my feet... But I feel okay." Asked if his third-quarter dunk meant he's back, he said "not really": "I thought I would never dunk again."
Joel Embiid played 29 minutes in the 76ers' preseason game, and Nick Nurse liked it: "I think that's pretty hard playing 29 minutes for him, which is— I like to see." He said Embiid shook off rust from the first game, pointing to his 8 defensive rebounds.
"Is it Tyrese and Joel and Jaylen and Labaron or whatever?" Nick Nurse doesn't yet know which 76ers combinations of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Labaron Philon Jr. work. Asked if Brown will lead second-unit lineups: "Possibly. I don't know yet."
Joel Embiid has been healthy and a full participant all camp, Tyrese Maxey said at 76ers practice, after "going through some stuff" last preseason. That lets them install more packages: "Changes everything. Changes everything, man." The starters have practised almost every day.
Joel Embiid looks slim and is getting up and down the floor running, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said at Philadelphia 76ers practice, calling him the team's motor. Caldwell-Pope has yet to share the court with him: "I haven't played with him yet."
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope says he's on the 76ers' second unit at practice, alongside Jabari Walker: "we play a lot together." His job: "play defense and shoot the ball," and he expects open shots next to LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
"You're just kind of trying to get to that number, 16, 18 minutes." Nick Nurse on LeBron James, in what appeared to be his first game: first half only, shorter stints than normal. Joel Embiid played about 24 minutes; he "just needs to get some rust off," Nurse said.
At 76ers practice, Jabari Walker said Joel Embiid has been talking trash in camp, unlike Walker's first year, when Embiid was dealing with injuries: "Joel been competitive and blocking shots and doing what he does. So I'm not worried about him at all."
Joel Embiid "hasn't missed a practice" in Philadelphia 76ers camp, LeBron James said, and is "just so much more healthier" than at the 2024 Olympics. The bigger tell: the staff has had to sit Embiid out at times even when he wanted to keep going.
Joel Embiid says he feels good compared to a year ago, after a block and a left-handed driving dunk in a 76ers scrimmage. He joked: "that's probably the last dunk of my career." He may get fewer touches, but more space: "So what are you going to do with that space?"
Labaron Philon Jr. says Joel Embiid has been fully practicing in 76ers camp. Philon says his college system is translating: "I've been telling guys where to go," connecting with big men Ariel Hukporti, Adem Bona and Embiid.
Justin Edwards, on a deeper 76ers roster, ties his chances to who sits: "I'm gonna take advantage of my role when the other guys are off." On Joel Embiid at practice: "He looks really good. He's competitive. He's still Joel."
From 76ers practice: Adem Bona isn't practicing; Nick Nurse wants him ready for some preseason games after an evaluation in the coming days. Joel Embiid and LeBron James have done everything for three days, managing their own scrimmage reps: "the smart way to play it right now."
From 76ers practice: Jaylen Brown said he, Joel Embiid and LeBron James are still sorting out who gets the mid-post spots and when to go — "we're only 3 days in, so it may take a little bit of time." He also expects the projected starting five to be "broken up" plenty.