“Not good”: Joel Embiid doesn’t mince words amid mental toll in return from knee injury

After much anticipation, Joel Embiid’s highly anticipated late-season return has finally become a reality. The Philadelphia 76ers have officially announced that Joel Embiid will be available for their Tuesday night game against the OKC Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center, making the announcement just 30 minutes before the start of the game.

Despite playing for nearly 30 minutes and contributing 24 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, Joel Embiid displayed clear signs of fatigue. It was evident that his determination to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to victory had taken a toll on him as he single-handedly pushed the team to the finish line.

Following the game, he was questioned about his emotions upon his return, to which he honestly responded:

“Not good, but glad we got through it and got the win… it took a toll mentally.”

After suffering a knee injury during a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 30, the Philadelphia 76ers’ star player was absent for 29 games. In early February, he underwent surgery to address the injury.

The Philadelphia 76ers shared a photo on X (previously known as Twitter) in which 29-year-old Joel Embiid can be seen holding a sign that reads “I’m back.”This significant image was released just before the game started, indicating Embiid’s comeback to the court following his absence due to injury.

Despite the Philadelphia 76ers enduring a challenging stretch during his absence, registering an 11-18 record, the team’s position in the Eastern Conference standings declined. This resulted in them being forced into the play-in spots instead of securing automatic playoff positions.

Joel Embiid shows dominant performance against OKC Thunder

Joel Embiid, who had been recovering from knee surgery for the past nine weeks, made a triumphant return to the court in his first game. In the final 40 seconds, he sealed the victory for Philadelphia by sinking four consecutive free throws and scoring a total of 24 points. Thanks to his impressive performance, the 76ers emerged with a 109-105 win.

In his 30-minute appearance on the court, Embiid inspired the Philadelphia 76ers with his performance. His presence reinforced the belief that the team can turn their season around and have a strong postseason with the return of last season’s MVP to the lineup.

Despite holding a lead in the fourth quarter, the Thunder ultimately stumbled and were unable to secure a win. The absence of All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was especially notable, as he has now missed three out of the last four games due to a quad injury.

Furthermore, the Thunder were still without Jalen Williams, who was unable to play due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers’ star guard Tyrese Maxey was unable to participate due to a hip problem.