Joel Embiid indicators three-year, $192.9 million max extension that retains him in Philadelphia via 2029

Philadephia’s championship desires begin with Joel Embiid being an unparalleled dominant drive within the paint.

Which is why the 76ers have locked him up for the subsequent 5 years. In a transfer broadly anticipated, the 76ers agreed to a three-year, $192.9 million max contract extension, locking him in with the 76ers for 5 years at a complete of $299.5 million. Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the story and minutes later the 76ers confirmed it, making it official.

“I began a Sixer and wish to be proper right here for the remainder of my profession,” Embiid mentioned in an announcement launched saying the signing. “I had no thought after I was drafted as a 20-year-old child from Cameroon how fortunate I used to be to be in Philadelphia. By means of all of the ups and downs, this metropolis and the followers have been the whole lot, and I’m so grateful for a way they’ve embraced me. I wish to thank Josh, David, and your complete group. Philadelphia is house and it is time to deliver this neighborhood an NBA championship.”

The 76ers took a step towards that championship with the largest transfer of the offseason, touchdown Paul George as a free agent wing. He, together with Embiid and level guard Tyrese Maxey, type arguably the perfect “large three” within the NBA proper now. 76ers GM Daryl Morey did pretty much as good a job as potential surrounding that trio with stable position gamers — Eric Gordon, Caleb Martin, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond, Kyle Lowry and others — to present Philadephia a shot at knocking off Boston within the East and enjoying for a hoop.

All of it — each the hopes for this season and the contract extension — is a wager on Embiid’s well being at age 30. He performed in simply 39 video games final season and returned from meniscus surgical procedure on his left knee — an damage Embiid mentioned took a psychological toll on him — in time for the playoffs, the place he performed properly towards the Knicks (however it wasn’t sufficient to earn the 76ers the collection win). Embiid has a historical past of accidents, some fluky (elbows fracturing the orbital bone in his face) and a few regarding together with his knees and decrease physique. Embiid performed in 66 video games in his MVP 2022-23 marketing campaign, and 68 the season earlier than that, essentially the most ever in his profession. Nonetheless, for the 5 seasons earlier than that he performed fewer than 65 video games (the present league-mandated cutoff for postseason awards).

When wholesome, Embiid is arguably essentially the most dominant participant within the league, a two-way drive who averaged 34.7 factors and 11 rebounds a recreation final season, capturing 55.6% on two-pointers and 38.8% from past the arc (on 3.6 makes an attempt a recreation). The 76ers want that Embiid to chase their championship desires, however it leaves coach Nick Nurse (and, by extension, Embiid) with a query: Is it value it to overlook some common season video games for load administration, presumably lacking out on postseason awards, for him to be wholesome for a playoff run? At this level in his profession, is that form of outlook the one the 76ers need to take?

For these wanting the main points on his new contract, pal of the positioning Keith Smith breaks it down.