Joel Embiid feels like he’s being doubted by the media ahead of his 10th season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Embiid brought up the subject when asked about his decision to send ahead long outlet passes during Friday’s preseason finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I think I just see all these guys, I’m here to help out,” Embiid answered (h/t On Pattison’s Austin Krell). “According to a lot of your peers, I’m not even a top 100 basketball player in this league. So I guess I’ve just gotta fit in, and see where I can help the team win basketball games.”

Embiid recorded 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field in 19 minutes on the court as the Sixers won 126-110 in his first game action in more than seven months.

The Sixers star added that throwing passes down the court saved him from overusing the left knee he underwent surgery on in April.

“I don’t want to have to run up and down, and then I can just let those guys push the pace, attack, and if we don’t have anything I’m always trailing anyways,” Embiid said.

Philly Voice’s Adam Aaronson recently published a round-up of how Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey came out in player rankings ahead of the 2025-26 season.

The former NBA MVP dropped from No. 8 in ESPN’s 2024 rankings to No. 47 this fall after missing all but 19 games of the 2024-25 season due to injuries.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps noted in the ranks that Embiid was “obviously a top-10-caliber player” if healthy for the 2025-26 campaign.

Both Bleacher Report and CBS Sports ranked Embiid at No. 26, and each outlet noted he would be ranked higher if his health this season could be guaranteed.

The biggest snub cited by Aaronson came from The Ringer, which did not list Embiid on their top 100 list ahead of the 2025-26 season.

There’s no question that Embiid would climb up each of those rankings if he is able to stay healthy this season.

The Philadelphia star will look to prove he’s recovered enough from his knee injuries to resume his former status as one of the most dominant players in the league, potentially as soon as when the Sixers tip off the 2025-26 season next Wednesday against the Boston Celtics.