What happened: Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid arrived at offseason work at a visibly lighter weight. The timing lands three weeks before Philadelphia visits New York on Oct. 20 on NBC and Peacock.

Why it matters: Availability has defined Philadelphia's ceiling with Embiid as a former MVP still chasing a first championship. The reset pairs him with a new-look five featuring James, Maxey and Brown entering 2026-27.

What to watch: Training camp will show how the lighter frame holds through full contact and back-to-backs.