Gilbert Arenas Will NEVER Believe In Embiid & The 76ers

Gilbert Arenas argues that Joel Embiid's persistent knee issues prevent him from being a reliable cornerstone for a championship team. He notes Embiid's history of missing games, inability to play back-to-back, and needing 'game restrictions' to manage his health, which is unsustainable for a deep playoff run.

Arenas states Embiid 'can't play back-to-back games,' 'can't play even some games he had to sit' (0:46), and 'you're not going to be able to be a dominant team when the best dude can't really go 100% every single night' (1:04). He specifies Embiid plays 'anywhere from 50 to 60-something games' (1:14) and that his knee 'can't go 82 games. It can't go 72 games. It can't go 65 games' (1:30).

One host suggests that due to Embiid's availability issues, Tyrese Maxey has become the de facto leader and most reliable player for the 76ers. Maxey's consistent presence and high-level production demonstrate his ability to sustain performance, making him a more stable foundation for the team.

The host states, 'I think it's time to recognize the franchise as being Maxi's franchise' (2:20) and 'Embiid is the most talented player on the team, but availability is part of your ability and Tyrese Maxi has been proven to be available and he has a high production usage rating and he's shown that he can sustain it' (2:26).

Despite past health concerns, some hosts believe the 76ers and coach Nick Nurse have 'figured out' how to manage Embiid's health by strategically resting him, allowing him to be effective when he plays. They point to recent strong team performance and Embiid's individual stats as evidence of this positive trend.

A host argues, 'Nick Nurse has figured it out as far as what he need to get from Joel Embiid on a nightly basis' (5:09). They cite Embiid playing '13 of the last 16 games averaging 34 minutes per game' (13:20) and the team's '9 and four in the last 13 games' (24:25) as proof of trending in the right direction.