Seven games into the 2024-25 season, the 76ers sit bottom of the Eastern Conference, managing just one win without their All-Star center Joel Embiid.
Embiid has been out with “left knee management” since his Olympic gold-medal performance with Team USA back in August. The seven-foot, 280-pound Big Man averaged 34.7 points and eleven rebounds last season to lead the Sixers.
Philadelphia narrowly defeated the now third-place Indiana Pacers, 118-114, on Oct. 27, but have been bested by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Toronto Raptors, the Detroit Pistons, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Phoenix Suns, and the LA Clippers since the season opened on Oct. 23.
The seven-time All-Star and 2023 MVP has received backlash from the Philadelphia community for his absence. Embiid snapped back at critics in a press conference at the 76ers’ New Jersey complex on Friday.
“When I see people saying, ‘He doesn’t want to play,’ … I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk, for people to be saying that. So I do think it’s b——,” Embiid said, according to The Athletic. “I’ve done way too much for this f—— city to be treated like this.”
Embiid, 30, has had his fair share of injuries over the years. He was drafted third overall by the Sixers in 2014, but missed his first two seasons because of a foot fracture. Since his debut in 2016, Embiid has missed 374 regular-season games and eight playoff games due to multiple facial fractures, a concussion, knee pain, and broken fingers. Last season, Embiid suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, missing 43 games.
“I’ve done it,” Embiid said at the press conference. “From what I can tell you, I’ve broken my face twice, came back early with the risk of losing my vision, had broken fingers [and] I still came back.”
“I wish I was as lucky as other ones,” he said later. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I [will be] pretty soon.”
Embiid is active in Sixers’ practices, which include 5-on-5 scrimmage play; however, a specific date for his full recovery is still unclear.
“Just managing and trying to figure out the best approach, but I feel pretty good,” Embiid said on Friday, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I’ve started doing some live stuff and it feels pretty good, so I should be back pretty soon.”
“I think, just being out there, I want to be at my best,” Embiid added. “I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m like, ‘I’m afraid if I do this, I might do something.’ … Since the last surgery, it was probably the toughest mentally. And I think mentally, I’m just dealing with getting that trust back.”
Injury aside, Embiid’s return hit another setback on Tuesday. The NBA announced his three-game suspension without pay after Embiid shoved Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes at Saturday’s game.
“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” said Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations. “While we understand Joel was offended by the personal nature of the original version of the reporter’s column, interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never turn physical.”
Embiid took offense to Hayes’ recent column mentioning Embiid’s son and late brother while questioning his professionalism.
The Sixers have a history of struggling without Embiid. The team went 16-27 in the games he missed last season.
The earliest Embiid can return is Tuesday Nov. 12 against the New York Knicks.
