Embiid 'all over the place' in 3-block opener, targets All-Defensive season

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  Kris RhimOct 21, 2026, 12:58 AM ET

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  Kris Rhim is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Kris covers the Los Angeles Chargers, including coach Jim Harbaugh's franchise-altering first season. In Kris' free time, he lives his NBA dreams at men's leagues across Los Angeles.

NEW YORK -- After blocking Knicks center Andre Drummond's dunk attempt in the fourth quarter of the Sixers' 106-100 win Tuesday night, Philadelphia center Joel Embiid wagged his index finger and shook his head.

It was one of three blocks Embiid had on the night, and the finger wag felt like a reminder -- or perhaps a warning sign -- to the Knicks and the NBA that he is back to being an elite defender this season.

"I think this year's going to be back to All-Defensive team like in the past," said Embiid, who has made the All-Defensive Second Team three times, most recently in 2021. "So, felt good, moving great. Felt like I was all over the place, so I need to do that every game."

Year after year, the Sixers' title hopes have been tied to Embiid's health, a bet that this team has often lost, as he has consistently had poor injury luck that has tanked the team's chances.

Last season followed a similar script. Embiid was never fully healthy in the team's second-round playoff loss to the Knicks after guard Tyrese Maxey fell into his leg in Game 7 of their first-round win over Boston.

Beyond that, though, Embiid struggled to look like himself for most of last season. He played just 38 games, navigating right hip complications, left knee management and appendicitis.

But that wasn't the case Tuesday night. He finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and three blocks, showing a bounce and agility that escaped him last season.

At the end of last year, Embiid said he was as "confident as I've ever been" about his health heading into this season. Those words rang true Tuesday, and his performance has him confident in the defender he'll be this season.

"If I want to be all-defense like I used to be, that changes everything for our team," he said. "So, if I can play that way every single night, which I will, it changes everything."

Embiid's preseason play fluctuated between bad and good: eight turnovers and six points against the Brooklyn Nets, for example, and then 27 points and eight rebounds against the Celtics in the finale. But he was near the best version of himself Tuesday night, impressing coach Nick Nurse.

"I thought Joel was magnificent tonight in making the right play," Nurse said. "He just kept making the right play depending on what was there, and that's really all we're asking him to do: hit the open man and read the defense."