Multiple foot and knee injuries delayed Embiid's debut for two seasons until 2016–17 when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team despite playing only 31 games.

[12] Embiid enrolled at Montverde Academy, Mbah a Moute's alma mater, but transferred after his first year due to a lack of playing time.

[24] After missing the entire 2014–15 season, it was announced on 13 June 2015 that Embiid had suffered a setback in his recovery after a CT scan revealed less healing than anticipated.

[29] On 26 October 2016, Embiid made his long-awaited NBA regular-season debut in the 76ers' season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

[44] After initially ruling him out indefinitely on 27 February with swelling in his left knee,[45] the 76ers issued a statement two days later announcing that Embiid would miss the rest of the 2016–17 season, an MRI on his left knee having revealed that the area affected by the bone bruise had improved significantly while the previously identified meniscus tear appeared more pronounced.

[53] On 15 November, Embiid scored a then-career high 46 points—the most by a Philadelphia player in 11 years—and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 115–109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

[54][55] Embiid shot 14 for 20 from the field and 16 of 19 at the free throw line, giving him the most points by a Sixers player since Allen Iverson scored 46 against the Chicago Bulls in 2006.

[59] On 15 March, he scored 29 points in a 118–110 win over the New York Knicks, becoming the first Sixers player to notch 40 20-point performances in a season since Andre Iguodala in 2007–08.

[64] Embiid helped the 76ers move on to the second round of the playoffs with a 4–1 defeat of the Heat, as he recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 104–91 win in Game 5.

[67] Embiid said in his postgame press conference after Game 5 that he felt there should have been a foul called on his potential game-tying layup attempt with under 20 seconds left.

[68] On 24 October 2018, Embiid had 30 points and 19 rebounds in a 123–108 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming the franchise's first player to reach those marks in the same game since Charles Barkley did so in November 1991.

[70] He became one of seven players with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks in his first 100 games, joining Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

[78] On 10 March, he returned from an eight-game absence with a sore left knee and recorded 33 points and 12 rebounds in a 106–89 win over the Pacers.

[87] Embiid battled through illness and flu-like symptoms during the second round of the playoffs,[88] which the Sixers lost in seven games to the Toronto Raptors.

[90] On 25 November, Embiid grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds but went scoreless in an NBA game for the first time in his career in the 76ers' 101–96 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

[91] On 20 February 2020, Embiid scored a then season-high 39 points, along with 16 rebounds, to lead Philadelphia to a 112–104 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets.

[95][96] Embiid finished the regular season with a then-career-high 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 51 games played, leading the Sixers to the best record in the Eastern Conference.

[102] On 6 December, Embiid scored 43 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out seven assists on 15-of-20 shooting from the field in a 127–124 overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets.

[103] On 19 January 2022, Embiid matched his then-career high of 50 points on 17-for-23 shooting from the field, along with 12 rebounds and three blocks, in a 123–110 win over the Orlando Magic.

[104] On 12 February, Embiid logged his fourth career triple-double with 40 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in a 103–93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He became the second player in 76ers franchise history to produce at least four games of 45-plus points, 15-plus rebounds and five-plus assists, joining Wilt Chamberlain.

[130] On 9 March, he put up 39 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, three blocks and a game-winning fadeaway jumpshot in a 120–119 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

[132] On 4 April, Embiid scored 52 points on 20-of-25 shooting from the field, along with 13 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in a 103–101 win over the Boston Celtics.

He became the fifth 76er ever to capture league MVP honors, joining Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Allen Iverson and Moses Malone.

With the performance, Embiid also became the ninth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game, and the third center to reach the mark, joining Chamberlain and David Robinson.

[151] On 2 April, Embiid returned from knee surgery and finished with 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals, leading the 76ers to a 109–105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

[154] In Game 5, Embiid recorded his first playoff triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks in the Sixers' 112–106 overtime win over the Knicks.

Three days later, Embiid received a three-game suspension for the altercation, which would not begin until he was able to return from injury, as he missed the start of the season due to a knee ailment.

[157] On November 21, 2024, it was reported that in an hour-long meeting involving players and coaches, Tyrese Maxey accused Embiid of regularly being late to team activities.

[161] On 7 February 2017, Embiid was named to the preliminary Cameroon team to compete in the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket in the Republic of Congo,[162] with the group qualifier taking place in March, during the NBA regular season.