PHILADELPHIA -- 12 games into the 2026-27 season, the Philadelphia 76ers are off to a great start as they are 9-3 despite having much work to do with all of the new faces on the roster. The Sixers have been able to work through some bumps offensively and a slow start from Joel Embiid.

The big fella is averaging 17.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting just 37% from the floor and 12.1% from deep (4-for-33). None of those numbers are very Embiid-like and the Sixers are still looking to get him going amid the tough shooting start for the 2023 MVP winner.

It's been a work in progress for everybody. This is still a team that is very much in the beginning stages of trying to get everybody on the same page and move forward. Embiid is still finding his role within this offense as well as get his legs back and Jaylen Brown sees it as they move forward.

"I think just him just feeling healthy is the key thing," Brown said of Embiid. "Battling that, it’s a battle for him throughout the year, but, he continues to just put his body on the line for the team, continue to improve and get better, and that’s the most important thing. You just have to get better."

There's one player on this roster who knows Embiid the most and that's Tyrese Maxey. The younger All-Star is going to continue to push Embiid to shoot the ball and continue to find ways to get the ball to him in his spots so he can thrive and succeed in those situations.

"I just tell him to keep shooting," said Maxey. "I mean, he's open. I see him shoot every day. He makes shots, so I don’t want him to stop shooting because it's good for all of us. Our offense needs to open, and it's good for his confidence that he saw one go in tonight, so I think that'll be good for him."

Embiid and the Sixers will face the Toronto Raptors on Thursday as they look to get back in the win column.