The Philadelphia 76ers are entering the 2024-25 NBA season with high expectations, seen by many as legitimate championship contenders. To meet those lofty goals, however, the Sixers will need to find a way to keep their key players, including reigning MVP Joel Embiid and newly acquired Paul George, healthy throughout the season. This is especially important given Embiid’s history of injuries, which has often derailed the team’s postseason aspirations.
In an effort to protect Embiid and preserve his health for the playoffs, the Sixers are taking a cautious approach. Embiid had limited involvement in training camp and did not participate in the preseason. Not because of any current injury, but as a preventative measure to ensure that he remains in peak condition for the critical stretch of the season. This load management strategy is designed to give the Sixers their best chance at a deep playoff run by reducing wear and tear on their star player.
However, this cautious approach has sparked debate among fans and analysts alike. Supporters of the strategy believe that it’s a smart move, especially considering Embiid’s injury history. They argue that protecting him during the regular season should have been a priority for the Sixers long ago. By limiting his workload, the Sixers are hoping to avoid the usual late-season breakdowns that have plagued Embiid in previous years.
On the other hand, critics argue that this “pick-and-choose” approach to the regular season undermines the competitive integrity of the game. They feel that resting star players during the regular season, especially when they are healthy, sends the wrong message and weakens the overall product for fans who pay to see these players perform.
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One of the loudest voices criticizing this trend is NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Speaking on his show, The Ticket and The Truth, Garnett didn’t hold back in his critique of the Sixers’ handling of Embiid’s preseason absence. “The league’s got to get this under control. This is all over the place, real (expletive), and nobody is saying nothing. Ain’t nobody holding anyone accountable, bro!” Garnett vented. He expressed frustration over teams allowing players to sit out games unnecessarily, especially when it’s not due to injury, but purely as a precautionary measure.
Garnett went on to argue that this practice gives opponents an unfair advantage in strategizing. “Teams now can lock in on you,” he continued. “OK, let me see where Philly’s playing. OK, here, here, and here. They’re going to go, ‘Who is the team that we can have a better chance to beat tonight?’ You’re going to play Orlando, and rest against Boston. That’s what’s going to happen.”
The heart of Garnett’s criticism wasn’t just about load management—it was about conditioning. “The point is they’re not in shape,” he said bluntly. “Let’s just keep it 100. They’re not in shape, and that’s why everybody is getting injured.” Garnett suggested that the reason for the increase in injuries across the league is that players aren’t keeping themselves in peak physical condition year-round. According to him, sitting out games only exacerbates the problem, as it prevents players from maintaining top-level fitness.
Garnett’s critique carries weight, given his illustrious career and reputation as one of the NBA’s toughest competitors. During his 21-year career, Garnett played all 82 games in a season four times, and 81 games in three other seasons, proving his durability. In contrast, Embiid has never played more than 68 games in a single season, and last year, he managed just 39 regular-season appearances before battling fitness issues in the playoffs.
Despite Garnett’s criticisms, it’s not hard to see why the 76ers are adopting this approach. Embiid’s injury history is well documented, and while they can’t change his physical limitations, they can manage his playing time to minimize the risk of further injuries. The Sixers are well aware that this may be their best chance to win a championship, and keeping Embiid healthy is their top priority.
The team’s rationale is clear: they would rather sacrifice a few regular-season games to ensure their star player is at full strength when it matters most—in the playoffs. Load management, while controversial, has been used successfully by teams in the past, most notably with Kawhi Leonard, who led the Toronto Raptors to a championship in 2019 after a season of carefully managed playing time.
As the debate over load management continues to rage, the 76ers will press forward with their cautious approach, betting that a healthy Joel Embiid will give them the best shot at breaking their decades-long championship drought. Whether this strategy pays off remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the pressure on the Sixers to succeed this season has never been greater.
