Philadelphia 76ers new head coach Nick Nurse told Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire that the organization wants Joel Embiid to play more games next season amid the NBA’s new resting policy.
“I think that we are looking at it maybe a little different than people think we might be,” Nurse said. “We’re trying to get him to play more games. Our goal is that it’s going up for him, not the other direction, and some people would say, ‘Oh, that’s playoffs. Is he going to be?’ We’re just trying to get it going the other direction.
“I think that’s just what our people believe here that he can play and again, knock on wood, cross our fingers, all that stuff. There’s always things that can come up with that stuff, but I don’t know. I believe in the guys playing as much as they can and let’s see what happens.”
Embiid is “genuinely excited” to play for Nurse, according to Paul Hudrick of SB Nation’s “Liberty Ballers.” The Sixers fired Doc Rivers after the 2023 playoffs and hired Nurse.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
In 394 regular-season games with the Sixers, Embiid is averaging 27.2 points and 11.2 rebounds. He has made six All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams and won one MVP Award. However, the Sixers have never gotten past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era.
Embiid averaged 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds last season for the Sixers while shooting 54.8% from the field, 33.0% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the free-throw line. He won the NBA MVP Award over Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Philadelphia swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2023 playoffs but lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Nurse won the 2019 championship with the Raptors over the Golden State Warriors in six games. He also won the 2019-20 Coach of the Year Award. It will be interesting to see how many games the Sixers win next season in Nurse’s offensive and defensive system.
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