Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has become the talk of the offseason after clips and photos showed him looking much slimmer than in recent years, earning the nickname “Slimbiid” across social media. Fans quickly embraced the transformation as a hopeful sign that Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, might finally overcome his string of injuries and return to dominant form.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 10, 2025
The focus on Embiid’s conditioning follows two difficult years. After winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award in 2023, he played only 58 games combined across the next two seasons. Recurring knee issues limited him to just 19 appearances in 2024–25, when he averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game before being ruled out for the season. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in April 2025 after the organization decided to shut him down. Despite missing most of the schedule, he recorded 37 points in 36 minutes in a win against the Portland Trail Blazers and a triple-double in a February game against the Dallas Mavericks.
The betting markets have responded with caution rather than exuberance. According to DraftKings, the Philadelphia 76ers are listed at +3500 to win the 2025–26 NBA championship. FanDuel posts them at +4000, and BetMGM places them at +4500. BetMGM also offers a playoff prop, setting Philadelphia at -250 to make the postseason and +200 to miss, which equates to roughly a 71 percent implied chance of qualification.
For their opening game on October 22, 2025, on the road against the Boston Celtics, oddsmakers currently favor Boston at -2, with moneylines set around Celtics -130 and 76ers +110 and the total at 222.
Embiid’s own MVP odds tell a story of tempered expectations: while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama headline sportsbooks’ boards, Embiid sits much further down the list at approximately +15000. His teammate Tyrese Maxey, who has taken on more offensive responsibility, is listed even longer at +20000.
After a season in which they missed the playoffs entirely, the Sixers were awarded the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selected Baylor combo guard VJ Edgecombe. His arrival places him alongside Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, creating a crowded rotation of guards who can both handle the ball and score. The future of Quentin Grimes, an unsigned free agent with similar skills, remains unresolved. Veteran Paul George, who joined the team in a high-profile signing, is another storyline after he struggled throughout the 2024–25 season, showing little resemblance to his past All-Star form. Analysts believe George could improve when playing alongside Embiid and Maxey, but questions linger about whether he has much left in the tank.
The Sixers are scheduled to begin their season in Boston on October 22, 2025. Observers said that Philadelphia’s ceiling and floor are among the widest in the NBA heading into the season, with Embiid’s health identified as the most important factor.
