Joel Embiid’s 'skinny' new look draws harsh verdict from former NBA star

Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas is not impressed with the "hype" surrounding Joel Embiid’s "skinny" new look. On Tuesday, the Philadelphia 76ers released pictures of Embiid shooting around in practice. Fans were quick to speculate that the former No. 3 pick has shed weight during the offseason.

Embiid has had a difficult time over the last two seasons, making just 58 appearances for Philadelphia. While the expectation from fans is that slimming down could help him stay fit, Arenas believes that Embiid’s knees are beyond the point of saving.

“Y’all hype about skinny Embiid and I'm tryna figure out what that gotta do with his knee not working no more 🤔,” Arenas wrote on Threads. “He gonna start off like usual… MVP type start but you’re not gonna win a chip because your best player can’t play that long."

Gilbert Arenas’ post on Threads

Embiid has often started seasons strongly, but injury complications have hindered his progress. Over nine seasons, he has only played more than 60 games four times.

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Joel Embiid has yet to carry the Philadelphia 76ers past the conference semifinals

Since being drafted in 2014, Joel Embiid has led the 76ers to seven playoff appearances. However, he has yet to find significant success in the postseason, failing to advance past the conference semifinals.

Embiid has reached the semifinals five times, even seeing three Game 7s at that stage. He has lost all three, losing to the Toronto Raptors in 2019, the Atlanta Hawks in 2021, and the Boston Celtics in 2023.

With the emergence of Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers’ chances for the 2025-26 season look positive. Again, the team’s success largely depends on Embiid staying fit; judging by past seasons, that may be unlikely.