Sixers star center Joel Embiid, who has missed the first four games of the season and has been ruled out for Saturday’s tilt vs. Memphis due to “left knee injury management,” told reporters on Friday that his goal is to make sure he feels fully comfortable on his surgically repaired knee before making his season debut, as Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports writes.
“I want to be at my best. I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m afraid if I do this I might do something or whatever,” Embiid said. “I mentioned it since the last surgery, I mentioned it so many times, it was probably the toughest mentally. I think mentally I’m just dealing with getting that trust back. In the past, it was just easy. But for some reason, this one is just like, mentally, trusting yourself and trusting your body. And I think that’s really what I’m doing.
“I’m almost there,” he continued. “And then with the team, we’re on the same page. I listen to them, they listen to me, and see how everything reacts. Been doing pretty good, going up and down five-on-five, and today was a great session with the whole team.”
According to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter video link), Embiid experienced some “minor swelling” in his left knee during the preseason, which is one reason why the Sixers have taken a cautious approach with him this fall.
The former MVP has been scrimmaging for a few days, but Friday’s practice represented a big step forward because it was a live-action five-on-five session with teammates, rather than 76ers staffers.
While it sounds as if Embiid’s absence might not extend much further beyond Saturday’s contest, he was reluctant to name a specific target date for his return, as Neubeck relays.
“It’s unpredictable,” the big man said. “You can have good days, you can have bad days, so I think it’d be kind of foolish for me to sit there and be like, ‘Oh, I’m playing on Tuesday,’ when you don’t know. I played today and it reacts, you’re still getting back into game shape, still getting back to yourself.
“You need to feel 100%, because I think over the years, I’ve done a lot and I’ve put myself at risk for the team, which I’m going to continue to do. But right now is the time to make sure everything is great, which is trending that way. It’s pretty good right now, everybody’s trending the right way, and so we can go on and have a long season and a great couple of years.”
Embiid has faced criticism from some corners for his ongoing absence this fall, with Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer writing multiple columns accusing the 30-year-old of a lack of professionalism and ripping the Sixers for their lack of transparency.
Embiid, who said he’s doing what’s best for his body, pointed out that he has played through multiple injuries and come back early from others over the course of his career. He took exception to some of the criticism he has faced, calling out Hayes by name in his comments to reporters.
“When I see people saying, ‘He doesn’t want to play,'” Embiid said. “I’ve done way too much for this city and putting myself at risk for people to be saying that. I do think it’s bulls–t. Like that dude, Marcus whatever his name is, I’ve done way too much for this f—ing city to be treated like this. Done way too f—ing much. I wish I was as lucky as other ones, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not trying, and I’m not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I’m going to be here pretty soon.”
Like Embiid, Sixers forward Paul George has missed the club’s first four games and will be unavailable on Saturday due to the bone bruise in his left knee. He’s also moving toward a return, telling reporters on Friday that he’s in the final stage of his rehab process.
“I think at this point, it’s more just cardio, getting the conditioning ready to go, so that when I do come back I’m not subject to any injuries because I’m fatigued and tired,” George said, per Neubeck. “I had really good two days of finally being on the court and practicing and running hard, being in live action, so the knee up to this point feels really good.”
But played in the Olympics?
Joel addressed the Olympic question quite articulately and thoroughly during this same media day question and answer.
Marcus Hayes says way too many absurd things for a man as plugged in as he is. He’d like a politician. Says a lot that makes sense and then every once in a while makes a claim that’s absurd. I want to not find him obnoxious but he is.
I mean, both you, Embiid, and the author of this article just mentioned him. I’d imagine he’s pretty happy right now. Clicks are clicks.
He did so much for this f-cking city, but apparently not enough to pass second round for 10 years….
Joel played beyond hurt in every playoff series I ever watched him in. Your point is moot.
Which is exactly the point: Embiid has been hurt in every playoff series you’ve ever watched him in.
That… isn’t a good thing. It’s not just “luck”, something is definitely off. And instead of yapping he needs to look inside himself and see if he’s conditioning well and making good life choices.
For example, an injury prone guy playing a whole summer of games in another country was probably not a good choice for his body.
The point is he played.
Dirty mf and a crybaby too. I don’t question the injury management – but letting reporters get under his skin and whining about luck are not the hallmarks of a winner.
Calling out someone no one has heard of outside of Philly isn’t a good look.
Joel has been silent throughout this entire ordeal,1 so called reporter not reporters, is called out, and later apologized. Nothing here.
Should have never given this chipless ball hog the MVP for playing like 50 games SMH
Curry puts up 30 to get 30 and breaks his own ankles to do it my friend so be silent.
No idea what any of that means, but its the usual mind-slop that comes from people who support one of the teams Curry owns super hard, so be silent.
Curry played 79 and 80 games in his MVP seasons. Embiid is Emfrauud
You have no idea about anything except curry is elite and continue to spew slop about yesterday. His ankles are shot .
Cope more, its not true. Curry’s ankles are fine. He has had shoe problems randomly during the last decade that cause him to turn his ankles, which require a week or two off. Who cares. Nothingburger. You dont know ball.
Yesterday
Yesterday was the Olympics, where Curry made historic memories forever. I cant wait for Curry to play til he’s 50 just to stick it to haters like you
Maybe Jojo should try reaching the ECF first, to back up his talk about doing so much (basketball wise).
Dude, you’re a basketball player who is paid to do a job. You ain’t a surgeon or a veteran. Just another guy with a vastly overinflated ego, even if I can understand how annoying the media and Sixers fans can be. No one owes you anything.
All I learned was that Philadelphia is a f—ing city.
And he is now AMERICAN
Whatever!? This is all just silly. When he’s healthy and right he’ll play. the team and he are together on it so it’s just media types and fantasy managers that need to have a timetable. He’ll play, he’ll be great, and he might get hurt again. This is Embiid’s MO from day one in the league. Recall it took two years before he played at all?
Nothing new here. Slow healer who doesn’t want to play unless he’s 100%. There have been more than one if those in the NBA.
In terms of the criticism here, Embid should blame the PHI FO for their reporting of the injury. Why are teams like PHI and LAC incapable of reporting injuries to their stars in a coherent way? Apart from fans’ expectations, the other teams (your association business partners) have a right to know. Incidentally, it’s required by league rules (whether Silver enforces it or not). The injury report is not subject to a team’s internal PR considerations. Or isn’t supposed to be.
Embid is who he is at this stage. Perhaps he simply can’t escape his early years as a Tanking baby. He expects to be celebrated for playing basketball (or trying), i.e., his job, and will never own results.
Embiid crying, per usual.
He won’t want to play this season cause by the time he can the team will be eliminated from the playoffs. They’re horrible this season.
Dude is too sensitive…
He’s a wuss. If not complaining. He’s crying about something.
He seemed to be limping in the Olympics! I guess for the gold medal he can play with pain. Between he and consistently injured PeeGee, they’re going to be lucky to get fifty games from each of them. Pee Gee disappears in the playoffs…..