Confirmed! No More Back-to-Backs: Embiid's Bold Claim—Even Jordan Wouldn't Dare Say That

Joel Embiid has stirred up significant controversy with his recent comments during an interview with ESPN. In the conversation, the reigning MVP expressed his thoughts on how he intends to manage his playing time as he ages, focusing on one elusive goal: winning an NBA championship. Embiid stated, "I've accomplished everything individually, except for one thing, and that's a championship." He went on to make a bold declaration: "As I grow older, you have to find ways to maintain your energy. If I’m being honest, I might not play any more back-to-back games for the rest of my career."

This statement sent shockwaves through the basketball community. Embiid, who has been one of the most dominant players in the league, appears ready to sacrifice regular-season appearances in favor of preserving his health for the playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers’ management has already voiced support for Embiid’s decision. They acknowledged that they plan to be "smart" with both Embiid and new teammate Paul George, allowing them to sit out back-to-back games to stay fresh for the postseason.

ESPN insider Shams Charania added to the discussion, reporting that Embiid isn’t worried about missing out on awards like MVP or All-NBA honors due to the league’s new 65-game minimum for eligibility. According to Charania, Embiid is solely focused on staying healthy and being in peak condition for the playoffs. The idea is simple: prioritize the end goal—a championship—over individual accolades and regular-season performance.

Embiid’s approach is understandable to some extent, but it’s still shocking. After all, he’s coming off a career season in 2022-23, where he captured his first MVP award, led the league in scoring for the second consecutive year, and posted career-best numbers in several categories. Despite playing in only 39 games last season due to injuries, Embiid averaged an incredible 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 52.9% from the field. His dominance was on full display, including a historic 70-point game.

However, the postseason has been an entirely different story for Embiid. In the 2023 playoffs, despite his regular-season MVP status, Embiid struggled to maintain his form. Over two rounds and nine games, he averaged just 23.7 points per game, significantly down from his regular-season numbers. He had only three games where he scored 30 or more points, with a high of 34, and two games where he scored 14 points and another where he posted just 15 points. The 76ers were ultimately eliminated in the second round, adding to the growing narrative that Embiid falters when it matters most.

This isn’t a new issue for Embiid. While he has led the Sixers to the playoffs in each of the past seven seasons, he has never advanced beyond the second round. Whether due to injuries or subpar performances, Embiid has yet to prove he can lead his team deep into the postseason. This reality has cast doubt on his ability to carry the 76ers to a championship, regardless of how dominant he is in the regular season.

Embiid's New Focus: Playoffs Over Regular Season

With this context, it’s easier to understand why Embiid and the Sixers would adopt a strategy of resting him during back-to-backs. The goal is clear: save him for the playoffs when the competition intensifies, and every game could determine the team's fate. From a health standpoint, it makes sense. Embiid has been plagued by knee injuries in recent years, and those injuries have undoubtedly affected his playoff performances. The grueling nature of the NBA season takes a toll on even the healthiest players, and for someone like Embiid, who carries a heavy workload, avoiding unnecessary wear and tear could be crucial to his long-term success.

However, the question remains: does this approach undermine the spirit of basketball? NBA legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have long criticized the concept of "load management," arguing that NBA players owe it to the fans to give their best effort in every game, especially for those who may have saved money and traveled long distances just to watch them play. Jordan famously played all 82 games in each of the Bulls’ three-peat seasons, and even at 41 years old during his final year with the Washington Wizards, he played in all 82 games, averaging 36.9 minutes per contest. For Jordan, sitting out games simply wasn’t an option.

Kobe Bryant echoed similar sentiments when discussing load management. He once said, "A lot of fans pay their hard-earned money to watch you play. Keeping your body in shape and being out there—that’s the job of an NBA player." To Bryant and Jordan, the responsibility to fans and the game came first, even if that meant sacrificing some of their own health or longevity.

In today’s NBA, however, the focus has shifted. Championships have become the ultimate measure of a player's legacy, often overshadowing regular-season accomplishments. For Embiid, who has already proven he can dominate in the regular season, the championship is the only missing piece in his career. So, from his perspective, sacrificing some regular-season games to ensure playoff success might seem like the logical choice.

But is this shift in focus from regular-season excellence to playoff health really what basketball is all about?

Has the Championship Obsession Gone Too Far?

In 2023, Damian Lillard gave a revealing interview where he expressed concerns about how the NBA’s culture had changed since he entered the league. He said, "Now, it feels like the only thing that matters is winning a championship. People talk about MVPs and All-NBA teams, and I’m like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ I don’t need a ring to validate myself as a player."

Lillard’s comments highlight a growing sentiment that the regular season, once a proving ground for the league’s best, has become less meaningful in the eyes of fans and even players. With load management becoming more common, and players like Embiid openly discussing their intention to sit out games, the NBA’s culture seems to have evolved into one where the playoffs are the only thing that matters.

This trend could have significant implications for the league’s future. As stars continue to prioritize postseason success over regular-season consistency, fans may begin to question the value of attending games during the year, especially when the likelihood of seeing their favorite players is diminished by rest days and load management strategies.

Embiid and the Modern NBA Star's Dilemma

Embiid’s decision to skip back-to-back games also raises an important question: what is the new standard for a superstar's availability? The Sixers have 13 back-to-backs in the upcoming season. If Embiid sits out all of those, he will play in only 69 games, which is still enough to qualify for end-of-season awards like All-NBA honors or MVP. But when did the standard shift to a point where playing 69 games is considered acceptable for a star player?

There’s no doubt that the NBA has changed, and the emphasis on championship-or-bust has fundamentally altered how we view the regular season. Embiid’s case is emblematic of this shift. He may very well continue to dominate the regular season when he does play, but if he’s unable to stay healthy in the playoffs or lead his team deep into the postseason, the narrative surrounding him will remain the same.

For Embiid, the upcoming season represents a crucial chapter in his career. With expectations sky-high following his MVP season, all eyes will be on him to deliver in the playoffs. If he’s unable to stay healthy or perform when it counts, his decision to rest during the regular season could be viewed as a misstep. After all, Jordan and Bryant never asked for days off to preserve their health—they took pride in giving their all every single night.

Embiid’s focus on the postseason makes sense given his injury history, but it also raises uncomfortable questions about the direction the NBA is heading. As more stars adopt similar strategies, will the league’s regular season continue to lose significance? And more importantly, will fans remain as invested in a product where the best players might not even be on the court?

For now, the pressure is on Embiid to prove that his new approach will pay off. If the Sixers fail to make a deep playoff run, critics will undoubtedly point to his missed games and question whether resting during the regular season was truly worth it. Whatever the outcome, the debate over load management and the balance between regular-season effort and playoff success is likely to rage on.