Joel Embiid Claims He Has Quit Three-Point Shooting for 76ers
The center is 3-for-17 from deep this season and missed all seven attempts in his last two games.
By Ayanda Kaminski ·
The Philadelphia 76ers have begun the 2026-27 NBA season with a high-scoring offense that relies on spacing, but one key component has stalled.
Joel Embiid announced after a Wednesday victory over the Indiana Pacers that he intends to stop attempting three-point shots. The center went 3-for-17 from beyond the arc through the first week of the season. He missed all three long-range attempts against Indiana and then missed four more in a Friday win over the New York Knicks.
"I think I might just give up on shooting threes myself," Embiid said. "Can't make any as a team. We shot pretty good tonight, but overall, since the season started, it just hasn't been it - starting with me. So yeah, I quit."
Head coach Nick Nurse argued that Embiid's presence on the perimeter is vital for the team's offensive flow. Nurse noted that defenses must respect the center's range, which opens driving lanes for Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and VJ Edgecombe.
"I think it's hard to guard when you've got a big that can go out and pop," Nurse said. "It's a lot of game-planning and all that kind of stuff. I think it will open up the driving lanes for some of those other guys."
Nurse maintained that Embiid takes good shots and should improve his percentage if he attempts four or five per game. The coach also praised Dean Wade, who set a career high with 10 assists in a recent win over the Charlotte Hornets. Wade, a 25-year-old two-way contract player, has shown strong defensive instincts against elite guards like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The roster also includes Tacko Fall, a 7-foot-6 center signed to a two-way deal after suffering a hip injury in camp. Fall dressed for his first game on Saturday but did not play. Nurse indicated he has not yet decided how to use Fall, citing the player's mobility limitations.
Injuries have affected the league significantly. A recent injury report listed 79 players, approximately 15% of the NBA, as unavailable. The 76ers missed Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac in recent games. Maxey said the team is trying to stay healthy in a grueling season, while Embiid stated that health is in God's hands.
Source: PhillyVoice
