Sports activities journalism is again. That was the most important takeaway from Dotun Akintoye’s phenomenal Joel Embiid characteristic that ran on ESPN on Wednesday morning. The enigmatic Philadelphia 76ers famous person supplied uncommon entry and vulnerability speaking in regards to the ups and downs of his NBA profession in the kind of longform piece that not often exists in at the moment’s media panorama. Embiid is a captivating topic as he enters the 2025-26 season because the league’s greatest wildcard.
Embiid performed solely 19 video games final season and by no means seemed just like the participant who received 2023 NBA MVP and seemed poised to probably repeat earlier than a knee harm interrupted a dominant marketing campaign the next 12 months. Now 31 years outdated, Embiid ought to nonetheless be in his prime, however accidents have taken a toll on his physique. That is nothing new for Embiid, he who missed his first two full seasons and most of his third season with foot accidents after being drafted. The truth that Embiid rose to change into MVP and one of many biggest per-minute scorers in league historical past is a outstanding story that will get misplaced within the continually discuss his professionalism.
Embiid is cautious to not make excuses all through the characteristic whereas additionally explaining his aspect of the story. It’s value it to carve out half-hour of your day to learn the complete 12,000-word piece. Since everybody doesn’t have time for that, listed below are just a few components of the story that have been notably illuminating.
Embiid’s early profession harm rehab was overseen by an intern
Embiid had been dominated out for his rookie season after needing surgical procedure to restore a damaged navicular bone in his foot. The staff reportedly believed Embiid was being “lazy” in his restoration as his weight ballooned, whereas Embiid felt like he needed to shield his personal heath as a result of his employer didn’t imagine him.
Former Sixers GM Sam Hinkie made hires from outdoors the group with the objective of getting Embiid again on the courtroom. He ultimately employed David Martin from the Australian Institute of Sport to supervise his restoration. Previous to Martin becoming a member of the group, Embiid’s rehab was solely being tracked by an intern:
Hinkie, in the meantime, raced to modernize the 76ers’ well being and efficiency operation with Embiid in thoughts. At first of Embiid’s tenure with the 76ers, his rehab had been overseen by an intern.
He doesn’t discuss to James Harden anymore
The closest the Sixers ever got here to breaking by within the Embiid period got here in 2023 after they had the Boston Celtics on the ropes within the second spherical of the playoffs. The Sixers received Sport 1 of the sequence with Embiid out with harm, after which constructed a 3-2 sequence lead when he returned. Philadelphia would drop Sport 6 and Sport 7 to finish their season, after which contract drama began with Harden.
Harden took a reduction to assist the Sixers construct a aggressive staff a 12 months earlier. He thought the favor could be returned in the summertime, however as an alternative the entrance workplace didn’t wish to provide him the contract he desired. The feud peaked when Harden went to China for a camp and referred to as Daryl Morey a liar. He was ultimately traded to the Clippers simply earlier than the beginning of the subsequent season.
The contract talks between Philly and Harden turned so poisonous that ruined what was a powerful relationship between Embiid and his former level guard. In accordance with Embiid, Harden received’t discuss to him anymore.
“Nobody is aware of this, however even James [Harden] will not be speaking to me,” Embiid tells me. “That’s the half I don’t like about being ‘that man,’ as a result of it places you in the midst of these conditions. As a result of should you ask James, he in all probability believes I had one thing to do with him not being right here. And I’m identical to, ‘I received the scoring title. You received the assists title. We had a pick-and-roll that was unstoppable.’”
Nicolas Batum didn’t understand how Embiid might stroll
Embiid was enjoying the perfect basketball of his life in Jan. 2024 when he suffered a torn meniscus in his knee in opposition to the Golden State Warriors. He rushed again for the playoffs and a primary spherical sequence in opposition to the Knicks, however the hits saved coming: he was recognized with Bell’s palsy that left the left aspect of his face frozen all whereas combating his method again by the knee harm.
Embiid and the Sixers each broke down within the sequence on their strategy to elimination. Sixers teammate Nicolas Batum couldn’t imagine Embiid might stroll in his present situation, not to mention play in an NBA sport.
“I used to be sitting subsequent to him within the locker room,” his former teammate Nicolas Batum informed me. “I noticed his knee earlier than each sport, after each sport.”
Batum shook his head. “I noticed his knee,” he stated once more. “I don’t know how he might even stroll.”
Embiid nonetheless has belief points within the group
A giant theme of the characteristic is the dearth of belief between Embiid and the Sixers all through his profession. There are a number of examples of this within the story, however the latest one comes when Embiid informed ESPN reporter Lisa Salters that he might have one other surgical procedure in Feb. as he didn’t get better from the knee harm protecting him off the ground.
This got here as a shock to the Sixers, together with Morey. To listen to Embiid inform it, the group wasn’t believing him on how he was feeling, so he needed to do one thing completely different.
“In the event you don’t wish to take heed to me, then I’ve to search out one thing else, to be sure that I’m going to be listened to,” Embiid tells me. “After I informed Lisa that, I feel it was a cry for assist. … It appears like all people refuses to acknowledge what’s truly occurring.”
Embiid is aware of who leaked Maxey’s remark
The Sixers held a staff assembly final 12 months the place at one level younger co-star Tyrese Maxey confronted Embiid about his tardiness. Somebody leaked that element to the media, and it infuriated Embiid.
Embiid says he is aware of he’s liable for the leak. This as soon as once more ties into the belief points between the star massive man and the group.
“I do know who leaked it,” Embiid tells me throughout a late-night telephone name after the season ends.
“You do?”
“Yeah, however I’m not going to — the previous is the previous,” Embiid says. “The one factor I’ll say is, it’s laborious being round those that do these types of stuff.
“That goes again to the belief factor. When you cross that — you’ll be able to’t count on me to be a part of a staff assembly once more. That’s simply not going to occur.”
Learn the complete characteristic. It certain feels just like the Sixers have failed Embiid at each flip of his profession. Let’s simply hope this isn’t the ultimate chapter of his time within the NBA.
