While rumors announced him potentially returning during this duel against the Thunder, we didn't really expect him because Joel Embiid had missed the shootaround and was listed as “absent” a few hours before the match.
Finally, the Sixers pivot was present in the middle. And with his 24 points (6/14), 7 assists, 6 rebounds (but 6 turnovers), he helped his team achieve victory against Oklahoma City, especially being decisive at the end of the match with an interception key on Josh Giddey, and the free throws behind.
“Usually when I have injuries I just tell myself to move on, take care of myself and fix the problem” he explains. “But this one hurt me mentally, I was depressed. She wasn't simple. I'm still not where I want to be, especially mentally, but I love playing so much, I love basketball so much that I'm going to take any chance I get to be on the court. »
It's easy to imagine why this injury was so difficult for Joel Embiid to swallow. Launched towards a new MVP campaign, the pivot was stopped in full swing when he could harbor real ambitions with his team, despite the departure of James Harden. Not sure of being able to come back during this campaign, and therefore not sure of being able to compete in the Olympic Games afterwards, he was visibly depressed…
“It was depressing. It took me a while to get over it and I still haven't gotten over it.”
“For whatever reason, this injury was disappointing. It was depressing. It took me a while to get over it and I still haven't. So you have to take things day by day and see the positive” he blurted. ” I'm back. Every day, I will try to progress and become myself again. »
Joel Embiid still got a hug from Allen Iverson at the end of the match, while the Sixers were obviously delighted to have him back. Tobias Harris thus confided that it was not very complicated to adapt to the return of the “franchise player”, while Nick Nurse praised the defensive impact of his interior, especially at the end.
“I think in terms of minutes, that’s probably what I thought we were going to do,” explained the coach, who used his pivot in short sequences, to make him breathe often, for 29 minutes in total. “He looked pretty good for someone who hasn't played in a few months, that's for sure. »
Now it's a matter of seeing how Joel Embiid's knee responds.
” I hope everything will go well. You have to take things day by day and see how the knee will react tomorrow. We have an important game in Miami. If I'm ready, I'll obviously play. But it's funny, because we were scheduled to be gone for eight weeks and I'm back after eight weeks. I have learned a lot over the years, I have to take care of myself, stay healthy because I still have a long career ahead of me. »
