Joel Embiid missed the first nine games of the season for the Philadelphia 76ers to focus on getting in shape.
Embiid’s Return and Initial Struggles:
On Tuesday night, it was evident that Joel Embiid still had work to do on his fitness. In a game against the New York Knicks, he seemed rusty, as if he hadn’t played since the Olympics three months ago. The MVP from 2023 missed two shots and lost control of the ball before asking to sit out after just under five minutes into the first quarter.
Impact Despite Challenges:
Even though Embiid wasn’t at his best, he still made a difference when he came back with just over two minutes left in the quarter. He helped his teammates score by setting them up for three-pointers, including a great pass to rookie Jared McCain for an open shot. This shows you don’t need perfect fitness to make smart plays when you’re as tall as Embiid.
big fella โก๏ธ the rook.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers)
Scoring Through Free Throws:
Embiid didn’t need top-notch conditioning to get fouled either. All eight of his points in the first half were from free throws because he’s really good at drawing fouls with his tricky moves and acting skills. Even though he got tired, having him on court changes how the team plays.
Fans think it’s crucial for him to build more stamina so he can play longer periods without getting exhausted.
Game Performance and Team Outcome:
In 26 minutes of playtime, Embiid scored 13 points, grabbed three rebounds, and provided five assists despite struggling with shooting accuracyโmaking only two out of eleven attempts from the field and one out of five from beyond the arcโbut nailed all eight free throws perfectly. Paul George shone brightly for Philly with a double-double: 29 points and ten rebounds plus some steals and assists; yet it wasn’t enough as they lost 111-99 against New York.
