Joel Embiid scored 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in his first game since Feb. 22 in the Philadelphia 76ers’ preseason finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But most importantly – an area we as fans choose to neglect – the NBA’s 2023 Most Valuable Player told reporters during his post-game interview that he is happy to be back on the court after a mentally challenging previous campaign.
Posted in a clip by the PHLY Sixers on XEmbiid said, “I’m just in a good place mentally and physically. I’m just happy to touch a basketball, be able to play basketball and do what I love.”
Fellow Sixers teammate Tyrese Maxey echoed this statement during his post-game locker room interview. “I think the biggest thing I felt was his joy.” Maxey went on to say, “How happy he was to be out there, and… [how] I was glad he was there.”
Embiid endured a year to forget
To say that the 2024-2025 season presented some challenges for Embiid would be the understatement of the century. After helping Team USA in their quest to capture the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the 31-year-old returned to the 76ers’ training camp with a lingering left knee injury that would limit his availability to his employers for a large majority of the year.
Additionally, Embiid was involved in a heated altercation with The Philadelphia researcher columnist Marcus Hayes, which led to the Sixers superstar pushing Hayes over an unsavory article he wrote about Embiid’s late brother — the NBA suspended him for three games as a result.
Later that year, Dotun Akintoye, writer for ESPN, published a fascinating article revealing the mental struggles and barriers Joel Embiid has had to overcome in recent times. Most notable was the tragic death of his brother Arthur during his rookie season, and how he had ignored a series of calls on his phone on the day of this terrible incident.
Joyful Embiid needs to remind fans what basketball is really about
It’s easy for a franchise desperate to win a championship, for a player desperate to engrave his name in the history books, and for fans who pay a percentage of their wages to witness their favorite team’s success, to forget that basketball is about more than just adding a number in the win column.
Basketball originated as an escape from the political issues and real-life problems that people face in their daily lives. Given their astronomical salary packages, we as a society sometimes don’t realize that athletes – in any sport – also face their own challenges.
Watching Embiid bucket with a smile on his face should bring joy to every fan in the league. In recent days, clips have surfaced of the Kansas graduate laughing hysterically as sophomore Adem Bona’s car was filled with popcorn because he couldn’t follow instructions.
There’s no doubt that Eastern Conference title challengers will be at the forefront of every Philadelphia 76ers staff member’s thoughts about the upcoming campaign. Nevertheless, there should be more to basketball than just success, and Joel Embiid’s return to happiness is a shining example of that.
#Embiids #uplifting #statement #powerful #reminder #76ers #fans