Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ superstar, surprised everyone, even himself, when he threw down a dunk in a recent preseason game against the Boston Celtics. This dude, who has been one of the best players in the league for a decade, admitted he actually thought he would never dunk again. Talk about a wild moment ahead of the 2026-27 season!
The Return of the Slam
Embiid has always been an icon for the 76ers, an MVP in 2023, and the main reason they’ve stayed competitive. But here’s the thing: he’s battled injury issues his whole career. He mostly relies on his insane size and skill, and while he’s an elite athlete, he rarely dunked as time went on, specifically to protect his body. It was a conscious choice. So, when he slammed it down against Boston, it was a clear signal that he’s feeling good and maybe, just maybe, ready to unleash that aggression again. The guy himself said, “I saw how awkward I landed. I guess it’s good to dunk. I thought I would never dunk again. Yeah, I don’t know what happened. I kind of got possessed. I changed my mind when I saw he was going to block it.” That’s pure gold right there.
Aggression, LeBron, and New Expectations
That dunk wasn’t just some casual bucket. Embiid was playing in transition when LeBron James dished him the ball. He pulled a slick move, faking a dribble hand-off, then absolutely posterized a Celtics defender. You gotta love that kind of shiftiness, especially when everyone’s been watching him slow down a bit over the years due to all the sacrifices he’s made with his body. This kind of aggression, showing he can still dunk comfortably, could mean a huge season for him. The expectations for the 76ers are already sky-high now that LeBron James and Jaylen Brown have joined the squad. Embiid’s going to have to match that hype by playing out of his mind, and yeah, maybe tossing in a few more of those unexpected dunks from time to time. Get ready, league, if Embiid’s feeling this good, it’s gonna be a ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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