Joel Embiid missed the start of the 2024-25 season even though he played in the 2024 Paris Olympics and didn’t have any surgeries.
Questions about Commitment
This unexpected situation led Marcus Hayes from The Philadelphia Inquirer to question Embiid’s dedication and fitness. In response, Embiid got into a physical fight with the reporter, which resulted in a suspension that further disrupted the 76ers’ plans. On Sunday, Embiid played his fifth game of the season, helping the Sixers secure a 108-100 victory over the Bulls. Afterward, he talked about his knee issues, explaining there’s no structural damage but unexplained swelling that puzzles his medical team.
Embiid’s Frustration
Embiid expressed his frustration to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps: “Depressing,” he said about not being able to play regularly. “Just trying to figure it out. There’s no injury. Just between the swelling … we’ve got to get it figured out. That’s it.” He added how annoying it is because he wants to play every game.
Sometimes we feel like these athletes are superheroes who can just push through anything.
Similar Situations
Interestingly, Kawhi Leonard faced similar knee problems during the 2024 playoffs, which kept him from playing in both the Paris Olympics and at the beginning of this season. Like Embiid, Leonard had no structural damage but recurring swelling.
Critics and Misunderstandings
Many people criticized Embiid for saying he wouldn’t play back-to-back games this season without understanding his knee problem’s complexity. Now it’s clear why he made those comments; he’d love to play every minute if not for his swollen knee.
Embiid wishes he could have been playing all along: “I would love to play every single game, every single minute,” he said. But sometimes your body just says ‘No,’ and you can’t do anything about it except keep working on getting better.”
Perhaps some critics were too quick to judge without knowing all details.
