On September 17th Beijing time, the standout showing of the "slimmed-down" Doncic at the EuroBasket proved the obvious impact of weight loss. Currently, another NBA player has clearly slimmed down: Joel Embiid of the 76ers. Following several months of recovery, Embiid seems to have achieved one of the best physical states of his career. His newest training pictures show a markedly thinner figure.

Last season was a nightmare for the Philadelphia 76ers. During the offseason, the team added George and McDaniels, forming a lineup with superstar center Embiid and rising guard Maxey, raising high hopes for the new season. However, things did not go as planned. Injuries once again became a major obstacle for the 76ers — a recurring issue over many seasons. The biggest impact was from Embiid himself: he never fully regained health and played only 19 games throughout the season.

Chronic knee issues have long troubled Embiid, and considering the cumulative injuries throughout his career, it is unlikely at this stage that he can be a player who participates in over 70 regular-season games in a single year — in fact, he has never reached that milestone in his NBA career so far.

"If I had to predict, I probably won't play back-to-back games anymore for the rest of my career," Embiid stated in 2024.

Now, with Embiid slimmer, will he become healthier? NBA fans have expressed various opinions about the changes in Embiid's appearance —

One fan commented: "Joel’s physique now leaves no room for critics to call him fat anymore."

Another fan added: "He looks really slim."

Someone else wrote: "I feel like he’s lost another 25 to 30 pounds, right?"

Another fan remarked: "JoJo (Embiid’s nickname) looks so lean."

Over the past two seasons, Embiid has played only 58 games in total. By comparison, in 2021 and 2022, he appeared in 66 and 68 games respectively — a range that is both ideal for him and provides a reference for managing his future workload.

When Embiid stays healthy and consistently plays, the 76ers have repeatedly proven themselves as one of the most competitive teams in the Eastern Conference. This season, given that many Eastern teams are also dealing with injuries, the 76ers might be facing a prime opportunity.

For the new season, the 76ers retained all their core players from last year and also added promising new talents in the draft: including the third overall pick VJ Echikson and second-round selection Auburn star Johnny Bloom.