The Philadelphia 76ers and their star center, Joel Embiid, are taking significant steps to manage his workload for the upcoming NBA season. This strategic approach includes Embiid skipping all preseason games this fall, aiming to ensure his health and availability for crucial months like April, May, and June. Depending on one's perspective, this move can be seen either as a positive step towards long-term benefits or a concerning sign of ongoing health challenges.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps provided additional insights into this long-term strategy, highlighting Embiid's efforts to emulate Hall of Fame big man Tim Duncan by reducing his weight. Arriving at training camp 25 to 30 pounds lighter, the 30-year-old center is committed to losing more weight to endure the grueling NBA season. Embiid stressed that this transformation is part of aging and evolving to maintain his dominant presence on the court.

Throughout the past eight seasons, excluding his first two years lost to foot injuries, Embiid has played in just 433 out of a possible 637 games. Consequently, the team has decided that Embiid's days of participating in back-to-back games are effectively over.

Addressing the media, Embiid remarked, "If I had to guess, I would probably never play back-to-backs the rest of my career." Daryl Morey, the 76ers' president of basketball operations, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the team will be smart in managing both Embiid and fellow center Paul Reed’s playing schedules to avoid back-to-backs.

This cautious approach extends to Embiid's use of a brace on the left knee, injured this past January. Despite his discomfort with wearing such support, he acknowledged its necessity for long-term career support. Embiid conceded, "It might not look as good as it used to, with the jab or the pull-up and all that stuff, but it'll still work."

The decision to limit Embiid's back-to-backs and enforce the use of knee support reflects a prudent, albeit begrudging, acknowledgment of the realities that come with his health history. Fans and critics alike may debate the ideal timing of these measures, wondering if earlier interventions might have prevented recent injuries.

Nonetheless, it appears that both Embiid and the 76ers are united in their commitment to maximizing their chances of securing an NBA championship by prioritizing his health and longevity.