Heading into the 2017-18 season, there is an expectation that the Philadelphia 76ers are going to take the precautionary route with rising star Joel Embiid given his well-document history of injuries.

This includes the plan of not allowing him to play the entire set of a back-to-back in order to ease the physical grind on Embiid. According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 23-year-old voiced frustration with not being able to play in each game of back-to-backs.

“I just want to feel like an NBA player,” Embiid said. “I feel like I'm not an NBA player because I don't play back to backs.”

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The Sixers have much reason to be cautious concerning Joel Embiid's health given that his career has been affected heavily by injuries. He had missed his first two seasons due to a pair of different fractures to his right foot, which was followed up with a torn meniscus in his left knee last season ending his first full campaign prematurely after just 31 games played.

Embiid may feel impatient with this aspect of the game plan with his health, but until he shows otherwise that he can physically handle an entire season this will stay the course. However, this should only further underline how important he is to the Sixers' future, especially after signing the lucrative long-term deal prior to the season opener.

All of this will depend on Joel Embiid proving over time to the Sixers that can handle the physical rigors that come with playing back-to-backs.