While Ben Simmon’s future in Philadelphia is in doubt, the Sixers made clear they believe Joel Embiid is vital to their team’s success.
Embiid signed a four-year, $196 million supermax contract extension with Philadelphia, per ESPN.
The Sixers confirmed the signing Tuesday but did not disclose details.
OFFICIAL! @JoelEmbiid has signed a multi-year contract extension to remain in Philadelphia 📝 pic.twitter.com/hL99axlIC6
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) August 17, 2021
The new extension will keep Embiid in a Philly jersey thru the 2026-27 season for $261 million.
Embiid, 27, represented himself during negotiations for the fully guaranteed contract with a player option in the final year.
The new contract does not include “the same provisions protecting the Sixers in case of catastrophic injury to Embiid’s lower back or feet,” according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Foot and back issues kept the Cameroon native on the bench his first two seasons, and he has only played a max of 64 games in a season.
Still, the Sixers are confident their 7-foot, 280-pound center will continue to put up numbers (28.5 points on 51.3% shooting, 10.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.0 steals) similar to those that made him the MVP runner-up last year to Nikola Jokic.
Embiid was the third pick in the 2014 Draft out of Kansas.