Joel Embiid will come to the new NBA season as the reigning MVP, but that level is not enough for him.
For 2023-2024, he wants to be more active, the kind of player that makes everyone around him better.
Ramona Shelbourne revealed Embiid is hard at work to stay in shape and elevate his leadership.
She said the 2014 third overall draft pick wants to be more active in both on-court and off-court Sixers activities, including making James Harden stay.
"You talk about players losing weight and all that; that is a goal that he has set," Shelbourne said on her ESPN Show.
"Until we see it, let's push pause on that. But I think his mentality is he's going to give everything that he has to the Sixers this year, and that includes putting his arm around James Harden. That includes trying to lift Tyrese Maxey up. That includes inviting all those guys to his wedding. You saw Tobias Harris there."
Harden requested a trade this summer after he and the team came to a stalemate in contract negotiations.
Rumors of Embiid growing unsatisfied with Sixers
The Sixers suffered another second-round exit last season, and that's the farthest Embiid has reached so far in his career.
They are expected to contend again, but the lineup has to improve.
Vince Goodwill of the Ball Don't Lie' podcast and SiriusXM NBA floated the idea that Embiid could grow antsy and trusting the process that has been going on for so long might not become an option anymore.
Analyst Kendrick Perkins feels the same, saying the Sixers is becoming a reality drama show.
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