Tyrese Maxey Says Healthy Joel Embiid 'Changes Everything' as 76ers Prep for Debut with LeBron James

For the first time in years, Joel Embiid is entering the NBA season healthy.

Tyrese Maxey said that having Embiid healthy "changes everything" as the team prepares for its first season with LeBron James.

"You can put in more packages," Maxey said, per ESPN's Kris Rhim . "There's been times where he hasn't been healthy and we get into the game and now we're trying to learn on the flow."

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Since his MVP campaign in 2022-23, Embiid hasn't played more than 39 games in a season while dealing with various injuries, mainly a knee ailment. That has caused him to miss key parts of the offseason, like training camp.

"If you haven't been playing with a big like Joel, there's not many. It's very hard, very difficult to learn certain things," he said. "...So, with him being here, we can drill those things over and over. It's been what, like two, three weeks that we've had just drilling and drilling. That's a good thing."

When healthy, Embiid is one of the best players in the league, but it has been a while since fans have seen that version of him. This year, it could be a different story.

While he's entering the season healthy, Philadelphia will surely be cautious with Embiid throughout the regular season. The Sixers need him, James and Maxey at their best when the playoffs roll around, and they'll need to manage their stars' minutes wisely to avoid any setbacks.