RADIO
Joel Embiid Expected to Play Sunday in Chicago
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (foot) is probable for Sunday afternoon's matchup with the Chicago Bulls as he continues to manage a plantar fascia issue. Embiid has sat the second leg of both Philadelphia back-to-backs this season but is trending toward playing Sunday. The 32-year-old followed a 26-point, 15-rebound effort against Detroit with an 0-for-9 shooting night Friday in Cleveland, and he is just 3-for-28 from deep this season. With Adem Bona (neck) ruled out, the Sixers are thin behind him at center, though Embiid's workload remains worth watching after he was limited to 25 minutes against Chicago last Monday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Joel Embiid Listed as Questionable Versus Chicago
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (foot) is questionable for Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls due to plantar fascia injury management. The former MVP is averaging 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 35.2 minutes through five appearances. Embiid sat out Saturday's win over Charlotte, when Adem Bona moved into the starting lineup and finished with two points, five rebounds, and three assists in 22 minutes. Bona also battled foul trouble with five personals, but he would be in line for another sizable role if Embiid remains sidelined Monday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Joel Embiid Out Saturday
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (rest) will sit out Saturday's game against the Charlotte Hornets on the second night of a back-to-back. Embiid played 33 minutes in Friday's 98-93 win over New York, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists despite shooting 3-for-12 from the field. Philadelphia rested him in the same situation last weekend against Detroit, when Adem Bona stepped into a larger role and delivered six points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks in 25 minutes. Bona should be in line for another healthy dose of center minutes Saturday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Tacko Fall Ruled Out Against Cavaliers
Philadelphia 76ers center Tacko Fall (quadriceps) is out for Thursday's home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 30-year-old missed the entire preseason with a separate left hip strain before landing a two-way deal Saturday, and he also sat out Tuesday's win over New York. Fall hasn't appeared in an NBA game since 2021-22, so his absence carries little fantasy weight. Adem Bona should continue handling the backup center minutes behind Joel Embiid after recording three rebounds, one assist, and one block in 10 minutes Tuesday. With Dominick Barlow (back) and Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) also out and Dean Wade (ankle) questionable, Philadelphia could turn to more small-ball looks with LeBron James.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Adem Bona Iffy for Tuesday's Opener
Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (foot) is questionable for Tuesday's season opener against the New York Knicks, according to Adam Aaronson. Bona missed the entire preseason after spraining his foot with Türkiye during FIBA World Cup qualifying. With Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) out for the season and Dominick Barlow (back) sidelined for at least two weeks, Bona is in line to serve as Joel Embiid's traditional backup when healthy. He averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes last season, with rim protection providing his clearest fantasy appeal. If Bona sits, Jabari Walker and LeBron James could absorb small-ball center minutes, while Dean Wade (ankle) is also questionable. Bona's value should climb whenever Embiid misses time.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Dominick Barlow Sidelined at Least Two Weeks
According to PHLY Sports' Derek Bodner, Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Dominick Barlow (back) has a lumbar spine bone stress response and will be reevaluated in two weeks. The 23-year-old missed the entire preseason and will sit out Tuesday's opener against the Knicks, with at least seven games scheduled before the two-week mark. Barlow started 59 of 71 games last season, averaging 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 23.8 minutes. His path back to that workload was already less certain following the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. Dean Wade (ankle) and Adem Bona (foot) could see more frontcourt opportunities once healthy.
Source: Derek Bodner
Source: Derek Bodner
Tacko Fall Lands Two-Way Deal with Philadelphia
The Philadelphia 76ers have converted center Tacko Fall's Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Fall missed the entire preseason with a left hip strain and hasn't appeared in an NBA game since 2021-22 with Cleveland. Philadelphia could use the extra size with Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) out for the season and Adem Bona (foot) and Dominick Barlow (back) working back from injuries. Bona remains the more interesting fantasy name after averaging 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks last season. Fall has played only 37 career NBA games and is more likely to serve as emergency depth.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Joel Embiid Pours in 27 Points in Preseason Finale
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid scored a game-high 27 points in Friday's 125-120 overtime preseason loss to the Boston Celtics, adding eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in 29 minutes. He shot 7-for-13 from the field and 11-for-13 at the line, a sharp bounce-back from his sloppy debut against Brooklyn. Philadelphia made a point of getting Embiid involved early, and he looked comfortable attacking the rim alongside LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey. The upside remains obvious, but after playing only 38 games last season, availability is still the biggest concern heading into Tuesday's opener in New York.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Adem Bona Expected to Miss Two More Preseason Games
Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports that Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (foot) is expected to miss the team's next two preseason contests against Brooklyn and Boston. Bona continues to recover from a left foot injury sustained during FIBA play. Last season, the 23-year-old averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes per game. With Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) sidelined indefinitely, Bona could see additional minutes behind center Joel Embiid once healthy.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Ariel Hukporti Out for Season with Ruptured Achilles
Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) will miss the 2026-27 season after rupturing his right Achilles in Monday's preseason opener against the Knicks, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 24-year-old suffered the injury less than five minutes into the game and was scheduled for surgery Tuesday. Hukporti also tore his left Achilles in 2022. His absence leaves Adem Bona (foot) in line for the backup center role once healthy. With Joel Embiid appearing in only 57 games over the past two seasons, Bona could get chances to start and provide rebounds and blocks when Embiid sits.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Tacko Fall Diagnosed with Left Hip Strain
Philadelphia 76ers center Tacko Fall (hip) will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks after an MRI revealed a left hip strain, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. The 7-foot-6 big man left Wednesday's practice early, putting his push for a roster spot on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal on hold. Fall hasn't appeared in an NBA regular-season game since 2021-22, so his fantasy outlook remains limited. With Adem Bona (foot) also working his way back, Ariel Hukporti should get more backup-center reps behind Joel Embiid while Philadelphia waits for both injured bigs to return.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Joel Embiid to Have Workload Managed this Season
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will have his workload carefully managed as he enters his 11th NBA season. Head coach Nick Nurse said the team had extensive conversations about managing Embiid's and 41-year-old LeBron James' workloads this season, including how they will handle back-to-back nights. Over the last three seasons, Embiid has played 96 of 246 available games, missing time due to knee, ankle, and other injuries. He remains as productive as any center in the league, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in under 32 minutes per game last season. However, with the additions of Jaylen Brown and James, Embiid's per-game production may not match what it was in years past. Along with his health concerns and the possible workload restriction, Embiid is a risky option for the 2026-27 season.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Adem Bona Suffers Foot Sprain Ahead of Training Camp
Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (foot) was diagnosed with a sprain after getting hurt while playing for Turkey in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and will be reevaluated at the start of training camp. Bona averaged 8.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks across four qualifiers and is expected to resume on-court workouts within the first two weeks of camp. The 23-year-old posted 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes last season. Ariel Hukporti should get an early opportunity to compete for backup minutes behind Joel Embiid, but Bona's shot-blocking gives him fantasy appeal whenever his role expands.
Source: Derek Bodner
Source: Derek Bodner
Joel Embiid's Usage Could Slip Below a Career Low in 2026-27
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) could see his offensive role shrink in 2026-27, according to PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson. Embiid's usage rate has dropped from 39.6 percent in 2023-24 to 34.2 percent and 33.5 percent over the last two seasons, and Aaronson sees a real chance it falls below his career-low 32.9 percent with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe alongside him. The former MVP may spend more possessions as a facilitator, decoy, or occasional spot-up option, and the shooting is worth watching after he hit 32.2 percent from deep over the last two seasons. Embiid still averaged 26.9 points in 38 games last season, but that number is harder to bank on in this lineup. A slimmer offseason frame could help his mobility, though availability remains the bigger fantasy concern than usage.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Joel Embiid Enters Camp with Health Optimism
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) enters 2026-27 with renewed optimism after telling reporters at his end-of-season news conference that his knee is no longer the main concern. "We figured out the knee. It hasn't been an issue," Embiid said, according to ESPN's Vincent Goodwill. The former MVP has appeared in only 57 of a possible 164 games over the past two seasons, so the injury discount will not disappear. He still averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 31.6 minutes across 38 games last season. Sixers president Mike Gansey said in August that Embiid is healthy, with the team expected to map out a workload plan. Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joining Tyrese Maxey should lower Embiid's usage burden, but staying on the floor remains the swing factor.
Source: Vincent Goodwill
Source: Vincent Goodwill
