Embiid Says His Knee Feels Better Than Ever, But the 76ers Just Got Swept Out of the Playoffs

Joel Embiid is projecting confidence about his health heading into next season, even as Philadelphia's 2026 campaign ended in complete disaster. The 76ers star made his statement after getting absolutely demolished by the Knicks in Game 4, a blowout loss on home court where the arena was basically filled with New York fans. The final: 144-114. Not competitive. Not close.

The Knee Question Looms Large

Here's what Embiid said in the aftermath: "I'm as confident as I've ever been." He specifically called out his knee as the biggest concern of the past season, but claimed he's no longer dwelling on it. "I'm not thinking about it and as long as we keep doing what we've been doing, I won't have to think about it anymore," he told reporters.

That's a bold statement from a guy whose injury history is basically the story of his entire career. Over the past 10 seasons, Embiid has averaged just 49 games per year across 490 total games played. That doesn't even count the first two seasons of his career, which he missed entirely.

Availability as the Key to Everything

Embiid is zeroing in on one thing for 2026: playing more. "I'm looking at next year, obviously being more available," he said. "The personal goals, it doesn't matter. I know that if I'm available and I play as much as possible, everything else is going to follow."

The 76ers were swept in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Embiid's health kept him sidelined for large chunks of this season. Without him on the floor consistently, Philadelphia couldn't get it done when it mattered most. If he can actually stay healthy and rack up the games next season, the entire narrative changes.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.