Joel Embiid hurt his knee in the first game of the season against New Orleans after a collision with Jonas Valanciunas. Since then, Embiid has been listed as questionable before every game this season. It’s been a somewhat slow start for Embiid this year, averaging 19.3 points per game, shooting 44% from the floor and only grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game. 

A report just came out from Ramona Shelburne of ESPN stating that Joel Embiid told her he couldn’t walk for two days following his injury in New Orleans. 

Shelburne continued to say that Embiid is playing hurt because Ben Simmons is not playing, and he wanted to be a team leader by taking the court every night. She continued to say that Embiid didn’t want the 76ers to fall too far behind in the standings and he’s toughing it out to make sure they remain in contention. 

Here’s the full clip here: 

Embiid was quoted last week saying that the game against the Nets was one that he “probably shouldn’t have played” but wanted to be there for the Sixers and his teammates. 

Last night, Embiid looked pretty bad out on the court in New York against the Knicks, finishing the night 2-7 from the floor and earning most of his 14 points from the foul line, where he shot 10-11. 

Few questions: 

If Embiid couldn’t walk for two days then how can we explain him playing against the Nets, which was only a days rest after the season opener in New Orleans? 

If Embiid is hurt, how can the 76ers medical and coaching staff let him continue to go out there every night without getting some rest and rehabbing his knee? 

There’s no doubt that the pressure on Embiid to be great every night is impacting him after everything that happened this offseason with Ben Simmons. Without Embiid playing his best basketball, the 76ers get performances like they had last night against New York. Not great. 

I don’t know what the best solution is for Embiid. I hate to say it, but the best option might have been for him to get surgery at the end of last season and miss the early part of this year. That obviously didn’t happen.

The best route would be for him to rest up now, let the 76ers fend for themselves, and maybe in a few weeks we will have Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid back in the lineup. 

Still confused about the “couldn’t walk for two days” thing though. More updates to come as Embiid and the Sixers take on the Pistons at home tomorrow night.