Tyrese Maxey said Thursday that a healthy Joel Embiid "changes everything" for the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid went through training camp and the preseason, which gives new teammates like LeBron James and Jaylen Brown time to learn how to play with him.

"You can put in more packages," said Maxey. "There's been times where he hasn't been healthy and we get into the game and now we're trying to learn on the flow."

Injuries have often kept Embiid out of camp and the preseason. The 2023 MVP has topped 60 games only four times in his career. Embiid has averaged 49 games a season over 10 seasons, not counting the two he missed at the start of his career.

Last season, Embiid played 38 games, twice as many as the year before. He dealt with right hip problems, left knee management and appendicitis.

Maxey has played with Embiid for six years and said he knows where Embiid likes to catch the ball and where he wants guards to cut, but newcomers have to learn those things.

"If you haven't been playing with a big like Joel, there's not many. It's very hard, very difficult to learn certain things," said Maxey. "...So, with him being here, we can drill those things over and over. It's been what, like two, three weeks that we've had just drilling and drilling. That's a good thing."

At the end of last season, Embiid said he felt as confident about his health as he ever had.

"I think, obviously, [my knee] was the biggest concern, and I'm not thinking about it," said Embiid. "And as long as we keep doing what we've been doing, I won't have to think about it anymore."