Joel Embiid’s weight gain cause for concern?

Taken with the third overall pick in the NBA draft this past year, Joel Embiid is in a very tough situation that he really cannot help at the moment (or so we think). Reports began popping up and spreading that Embiid’s recent weight gain as a result of injury and inactivity is beginning to make some of the 76ers training staff worry. No exact figures have been released or announced but rumblings have stated some pretty alarming numbers.

“Embiid has a weight issue. Although the Sixers wouldn’t disclose his weight, a source said he’s close to 300 pounds after being 250 pounds at Kansas last season.”

All of this is believed to have sprung from the fact that Embiid was recently sent home while the 76ers were away on a west coast swing in their season citing a “falling out” with the training staff. But before we jump to conclusions about this report, there are some elephants in the room that should be addressed.

All things considered, it isn’t surprising that Embiid has gained some weight since his injury before the draft. To gain 50 pounds in about six months can definitely be classified as excessive, however, Embiid did reportedly jump to his own defense by later stating and getting backed up by a Sixers employee that he is not anywhere close to 300 lbs, although his weight gain is quite evident.

Embiid’s work ethic and willingness to lose the weight is also being called into question by these reports even though he is not cleared to practice, play, or do any kind of strenuous workouts yet. You have to admit that this sounds weird. Back and foot injuries, for those of you that do not know, are extremely limiting. There was one report that stated that the only “workouts” he can complete are long walks and underwater gravity reduced cardio; neither of which will keep the weight off as effectively as actually playing basketball.

It is also interesting how these reports are effectively forgetting how Nerlens Noel, who also sat out his first year of basketball had the complete opposite experience when attempting to stay in shape during the year by comparison. Noel did not have the type of limiting foot and back fractures that Embiid has now, he had a nasty knee injury that did not limit him nearly as much.

Noel was also known to have an unusually high metabolism that, in many cases, allowed him to eat freely without the threat of gaining weight to slow him down. Isn’t it just a bit unfair to expect Embiid to stay in basketball shape, or even running shape, when he cannot run or play basketball? Noel’s physical ability before he was injured was also very strange for someone with his height. Being able to run the floor the way he does is not something you develop from working out as a big man, that is a physical capability that is not seen very often in the NBA, especially among traditionally sized 7-foot centers like Embiid is projected to be. Not to say that Embiid can’t run the floor in his own right, but it would be unfair to expect him to exhibit the same activity level as Noel did in his first season.

All this is only to point out that Embiid has yet to be healed from two very limiting issues. Yao Ming had to retire from the NBA with nagging and lingering foot and back injuries (knock on wood). At 20 years old, gaining weight while being sidelined in nothing to sneeze at but it should not be that much of a cause for concern.

To question an unhealthy man’s work ethic is one thing but to witness a healthy man refuse to put in the hours is another. After Embiid heals from his injuries, that would be the time to point out his weight gain and the need to address it. It is simply unfair to portray Embiid as lazy and unwilling when the most he can do is take a long walk. Let us see what Embiid looks like after his ailments have lifted, then we will see if he has the motivation to get into shape to play the game that made him rich. Until then, lay off…. he’s hurt.