“ It's always the same state of mind: if I feel good, I play. » For the first time since his left meniscus operation, Joel Embiid appeared before the press this Thursday. The opportunity for him to confirm that he plans to play again this season, as his president Daryl Morey had suggested almost three weeks ago.
“ This is the plan » ensures then the pivot of Sixers, who undoubtedly has the playoffs in the back of his mind. “ Obviously everything has to go well, until I'm healthy and close [du niveau] where I'm supposed to be, but that's the plan. »
Play again and then notify
Almost a month after his injury, Joel Embiid remains optimistic, even if his length of unavailability remains unclear.
“ There is no real timetable, it all depends on my body and its reaction, especially once we start to increase the efforts » indicates the reigning MVP on this subject. “ It all depends on feeling. If the feeling is good, then it's good, but if the feeling is not good, then I must continue [mes efforts]. »
In the absence of Joel Embiid, Philadelphia has won only four of its last twelve games, falling from 3rd to 6th place in the East and finding itself under threat from 7th and 8th. At this point, the ranking is no longer the priority of the franchise because, if it can find its inner All-Star on its two legs, Daryl Morey considers it capable of beating everyone.
“ I love playing basketball and I just want to be on the floor as much as possible because I only have about twenty years old to do it. I want to be on the floor every chance I get, so it doesn't matter where we are [au classement]. Third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh… No matter where we are, I just want to play as much as possible and try to help us win » adds besides the Cameroonian.
Looking towards Paris
Almost 30 years old, Joel Embiid wants to play and make the most of the years he has left in his playing career. In this sense, it is therefore hardly surprising to learn that he plans to compete in the next Olympic Games, if his body allows it.
“ If the feeling is good, then I will play » he warns on this subject, so as to reassure a certain Steve Kerr, who is precisely hoping for his presence at Paris 2024 and who would have already checked his name on his list.
| Joel Embiid | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | PHL | 31 | 25 | 46.6 | 36.7 | 78.3 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 20.2 |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 63 | 30 | 48.3 | 30.8 | 76.9 | 2.3 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 22.9 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 64 | 34 | 48.4 | 30.0 | 80.4 | 2.5 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 27.5 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 51 | 30 | 47.7 | 33.1 | 80.7 | 2.8 | 8.9 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 23.0 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 51 | 31 | 51.3 | 37.7 | 85.9 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 28.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 68 | 34 | 49.9 | 37.1 | 81.4 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 30.6 |
| 2022-23 ★ | PHL | 66 | 35 | 54.8 | 33.0 | 85.7 | 1.7 | 8.4 | 10.2 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 33.1 |
| 2023-24 | PHL | 34 | 34 | 53.3 | 36.6 | 88.3 | 2.6 | 8.7 | 11.3 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 35.3 |
| Total | 428 | 32 | 50.4 | 33.9 | 82.5 | 2.3 | 8.9 | 11.2 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 27.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
