Stephen Jackson didn't hold back on Joel Embiid after the 76ers star played a game without socks, calling the move "disrespectful" despite Embiid’s excuse of a family-induced hangover.

PHILADELPHIA -- Everything the Philadelphia 76ers plan to do in the 2025-26 season comes down to the health of Joel Embiid. They will go as far as the big fella will take them when the playoffs roll around in April as he, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George are the leaders of this group.

While Embiid can be a prolific scorer, the Sixers best chances of winning comes from the involvement of their less heralded players. It's up to Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to get them opportunities.

For the first several weeks of the season, Embiid was on a strict load management plan that included multiple days off in between appearances. In early December, Embiid logged two starts in a three-day span for the first time,

Joel Embiid and the Sixers had some fun with his first dunk of the season, an uncontested, two-handed jam that capped the team's 130-119 win over the Knicks on Saturday night.

Although Embiid has been rounding back into form as of late, this is the first year in which the Sixers no longer need him to carry them. He undeniably still raises their ceiling, but they have a solid floor either way due to the supporting cast around him.

Joel Embiid pranks rookie VJ Edgecombe after minor contact, amid growing chemistry as the Philadelphia 76ers find momentum on their road trip.

Keith and Marc breakdown what went wrong in the 76ers lost the Denver Nuggets. Author: khou.com . Published: 10:18 AM CST January 6, 2026