Sports
76ers star Joel Embiid down 30 pounds: ‘All about’ playoff health
Sep 30, 2024; Camden, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) poses for a photo on media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Joel Embiid has an NBA Most Valuable Player award and five All-NBA selections to his name. What he doesn’t have is a healthy run in the playoffs this decade.
The Philadelphia 76ers are expecting a leaner, meaner Embiid in 2024-25 after the center said at Monday’s preseason media day that he has dropped 25 to 30 pounds this offseason and isn’t satisfied yet.
“This year is all about, there’s no agenda, there’s no All-Star, there’s no All-NBA,” Embiid said. “There’s none of that. There is whatever it takes to make sure that I get to that point where I’m ready to go. Because basically every single year in my career I’ve been hurt in the playoffs. So I think that’s the goal.”
Embiid, 30, played in just 39 games in the 2023-24 regular season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee. He was back in time for the playoffs but wasn’t 100 percent as the 76ers dropped their first-round series against the New York Knicks.
He had an LCL sprain in 2023, a facial fracture and broken thumb in 2022 and a meniscus tear in his right knee in 2021.
Embiid, who was listed at 280 pounds at the end of last season, sees a slimmer build as a path to better luck with his health.
“I’ve still got a ways to go,” Embiid said. “Still want to lose more, but it’s a process. (President of basketball operations Daryl Morey) would tell you this: As soon as we lost last year, I texted him and I was like, ‘We’ve got to do whatever it takes to make sure that, in the postseason, I’m healthy.'”
Morey, for his part, coordinated the Sixers’ signing of star free agent forward Paul George to join Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in the franchise’s push toward a title. Philadelphia hasn’t gotten past the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs since 2001.
“We’re going to be really smart about this,” Morey said of managing Embiid’s health. “We’re focused on April, May, June. It doesn’t mean that the team right now isn’t important as well, but we’re going to be very smart about how we manage him through the season. There’s going to be a lot of information as we learn about how everything’s working with the entire roster.
“But with Joel specifically … we actually have quite a few guys who we think we need to (be) smart about how we manage them through the season while still maintaining a high level of play, and keep the eye on the prize as we do that.”
Embiid averaged career highs of 34.7 points and 5.6 assists plus 11.0 rebounds per game in limited action last year. He’s less than two years removed from winning MVP honors after he put up 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks per game in 2022-23.
Embiid has averaged 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 433 games (all starts) since Philadelphia drafted him third overall in 2014.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Salvador Perez sets KC franchise HR record in win over Tigers
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Nick Loftin hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth, Salvador Perez set the franchise home run record, and the visiting Kansas City Royals squeaked by the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, on Saturday.
Perez’s seventh-inning blast was his 318th career homer, surpassing Hall of Famer George Brett on the franchise’s all-time list. It was also Perez’s 31st homer against the Tigers.
Vinnie Pasquantino had three hits and scored a run for Kansas City.
Hao-Yu Lee drove in both Tigers runs with a double and solo homer. The Tigers had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Detroit starter Casey Mize gave up one run and three hits in six innings. Royals starter Michael Wacha lasted seven innings, allowing two runs and six hits.
Loftin gave the Royals the lead with one out in the ninth, pulling an 0-2 pitch from Jacob Waguespack (0-1) over the left field wall.
Riley Greene led off the bottom of the inning with a single off Daniel Lynch IV (4-2). Alex Lange then replaced him and struck out Lee. Zach McKinstry moved Greene to third with a single. Lange then struck out Matt Vierling and induced pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson to end the game, allowing Lange to notch his 10th save.
The Royals took the lead in the second as Pasquantino led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and reached third on a Mize wild pitch. He scored on Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly.
Detroit tied it in the bottom of the second. Greene banged a double off the left field wall and scored on Lee’s opposite-field double.
With one out in the fourth, Lee took advantage of a hanging changeup and clobbered it over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Perez smashed his historic homer off Kyle Finnegan, pulling a hanging slider over the left field wall for an estimated 401 feet.
Perez couldn’t deliver again in the eighth with runners on the corners and two out as he grounded into a fielder’s choice.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Nov 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Orlando City logo is seen prior to a match against Atlanta United in a 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Orlando City SC signed homegrown defender Bernardo Rhein to a first-team contract through the 2027-28 season.
The deal includes team options for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 campaigns.
“Bernardo has earned this opportunity through his dedication, consistency and the progress he’s shown at every stage of our development pathway,” said Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira.
“Having started in futsal, Bernardo brings flair and intensity to our backline. From the Academy to OCB and now the First Team, he has embraced every challenge and continued to grow as a player and as a person. This signing reflects our commitment to developing talent from within, and we’re excited to support Bernardo as he takes the next step in his career with the Club.”
The 18-year-old made his MLS debut on April 22, 2026, against Charlotte FC. He becomes the 19th Orlando City Academy product to advance through the full development pathway.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Salvador Perez sets KC franchise HR record in win over Tigers
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
