PHILADELPHIA—Joel Embiid spent two full seasons and many others during his NBA career recovering, rehabbing, even resting — thanks, load management — that has kept the Philadelphia 76ers star almost on the sidelines until now. It has become a habit to sit.
His latest injury, a torn meniscus in his left knee, which required surgery and cost him two months of the season, had varying results.
“Normally, when I have injuries, I just tell myself, ‘Move on to the next one. Get better and fix it,” Embiid said. “This one, it took a toll mentally. To remain sad. it was not good. I’m still not where I need to be, especially mentally. But I just like to play. I like basketball and want to play. Any chance I get to be there, I’m going to take it.”
At least Embiid felt the love in Philly.
More sports from NBC News
He was warmly welcomed by Hall of Famer Allen Iverson and approximately 21,000 Sixers fans, who roared for his introduction and chanted “MVP!” Were raising slogans. MVP!” Throughout the game in his first game in nine weeks. Embiid scored 24 points, seven assists, six rebounds and made four free throws in the final 40 seconds, leading the 76ers to a 109-105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP, was cleared to return before the game and played for the first time since being injured in the Sixers’ last game of January. The Sixers fell into the Eastern Conference standings without him. A team playing for a top-four spot in the East before Embiid’s injury, the Sixers are 14-27 overall without him this season and 11-18 since he was injured in a Jan. 30 loss at Golden State.
Embiid – wearing a WWE T-shirt gifted to him by former wrestler Triple H before WrestleMania – couldn’t explain exactly what caused his bouts with depression. But another injury blow and the struggle of watching the Sixers lose game after game without him took a toll on his mental health.
“It took me a while to get over it,” Embiid said. “I still haven’t got over it. I just have to take it day by day. Look for the positives. I’m back. Hopefully, every day I will try and get better and get back to myself.”
Embiid, 30, said he leaned on his wife and young son to get him through the tough days. He would drive his 3 1/2-year-old son, Arthur, to and from school and Embiid would play with him “all day” to distract him from the fact that his NBA career was on hold.
“Basketball obviously means a lot and I love it and I love playing,” Embiid said. “This is the best thing that has happened to me. But family also comes first. That’s what kept me going through it.”
Embiid admitted to exhaustion and finished the game sitting at the scorer’s table. After falling badly at the end of the game, the 7-foot player lay on his back for several moments before his teammates allowed him to be yanked up.
“I felt like I could have been better,” Embiid said.
Sixers fans were ready for the return of the All-Star center. Embiid, with his hair tied in braids, received a standing ovation when he was introduced into the starting lineup. Embiid began the day listed as out on the injury report, before he was upgraded to questionable by the afternoon.
“I want to take him there and evaluate where we are,” coach Nick Nurse said.
The Sixers entered Tuesday in eighth place in the East with seven games remaining this season and look set to make the play-in tournament. The No. 7 seed plays the No. 8 seed. The winner is in and gets the No. 7 seed for the playoffs. The loser has a second chance.
“I don’t usually worry about the seeding stuff,” Nurse said. “There’s some common sense here that we need to prepare this team, whatever that means, to be the best they can be if we make the postseason.”
Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champion, is averaging 35.3 points and 11.5 rebounds this season. He scored a franchise-record 70 points with 18 rebounds in a 133–124 win over San Antonio on January 22.
“The hype is real,” teammate Kelly Oubre Jr. said. “He’s one of the most dominant players the NBA has ever seen.”
Embiid had meniscus surgery on February 6 after Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga fell on the left leg of 7-footer Embiid. Earlier, Embiid had been held out for Philadelphia’s last two games due to left knee inflammation.
All the missed games cost Embiid his shot at a second consecutive MVP. He just wants to help the 76ers get back to the way they played the first few months of the season as they chase their first NBA championship since 1983.
“I’ve learned a lot over the last few years,” Embiid said. “I have to take care of myself. I have to stay healthy because I still have a long career ahead of me. “It’s about now and the future.”
