Embiid hopes to play back-to-backs by end of January

Four years and 62 games since going No. 3 overall in the 2014 draft, Joel Embiid has still never played in both games of a back-to-back set. If you ask the Philadelphia 76ers' gregarious center, that could change in the very near future.

"Hopefully back-to-backs by the end of this month, I'll be able to play," Embiid said Friday, according to The Philly Inquirer's Keith Pompey.

After being sidelined for what should have been his first two NBA campaigns due to injury, the team has restricted Embiid's workload in an attempt to avoid overextending the dynamic big man. He didn't crack the 30-minute threshold in any of his appearances in 2016-17.

In 31 appearances so far this season, Embiid has averaged 23.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game. The Sixers are 18-13 with Embiid in the lineup and just 2-7 without him.