Joel Embiid Says He'll 'Listen' to 76ers' Load Management Recommendations in 2024-25

Joel Embiid will be mindful of the recommendations from the team's medical staff regarding potential load management during the 2024-25 season.

The Philadelphia 76ers superstar acknowledged that he hasn't always agreed with trainers in the past, but he'll be more tolerant as he attempts to stay healthy for a possible playoff run.

"I might get mad, I might curse people out, but I think it's a relationship," Embiid said, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "We've been working together for years now. Now I look at the big picture, and I've always listened to them, but now it's even more of the time where I should listen and see what they have to say."

Embiid appeared in just 39 games last season, as he was out for over two months after undergoing knee surgery.

The procedure to repair a meniscus injury kept him on the bench until seven games were remaining in the regular season. While he was able to appear in all six games during Philadelphia's first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, he was still hampered by multiple health issues.

Embiid briefly exited the 76ers' Game 1 loss to the Knicks after appearing to hurt the same surgically repaired knee, but he was able to return before the end of the contest. He also dealt with a mild case of Bell's palsy throughout the first-round series.

His focus for the 2024-25 season is on staying healthy for the playoffs.

"As soon as we lost last year, I just texted [76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey] and I was like, 'We got to do whatever it takes to make sure that in the postseason I'm healthy.' So this year is all about [that]," Embiid said on Monday, via Bontemps.

The 30-year-old is one of the most dominant players in the association when healthy, with seven All-Star nods and an MVP under his belt. However, injuries have impacted him throughout his career. Embiid hasn't reached 70 games played in a single season since he made his debut in 2016.

With nine-time All-Star Paul George joining Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia, the 76ers are expected to compete with the Knicks and Boston Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy.

As he attempts to guide his team to a long postseason run, Embiid understands that he'll need to cooperate with the team's medical staff to preserve his long-term health.