WATCH: Joel Embiid says he got fat during his time off, leads 76ers to victory regardless

Tuesday night was a great night for Philly sports, and Joel Embiid, obviously, played a big role in that.

Aside from Bryce Harper’s three homeruns against the Reds at The Bank, Embiid made his long-awaited return to the Sixers lineup Tuesday night. He wasn’t the other wordly force we saw earlier in the season, but he still clearly had a major impact on the game.

Joel Embiid finished with 24 points on 6-of-14 from the floor in 29 minutes of play. He did all of this despite getting fat during his time away (his words, not mine).

Joel Embiid: “I gained 50 pounds”

"I gained a lot of weight, so I'm pretty fat right now, but it's ok." 🍔

Joel might've gained a few lbs while recovering from his injury but he didn't let it stop him from helping get the Sixers a much-needed win Tuesday night. pic.twitter.com/HuiK2blu1z

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 3, 2024

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“No, I gained 50 pounds,” Embiid joked after a reporter told him he looked like he lost weight. “I gained a lot of weight, so I’m pretty fat right now. But it’s okay. I’ll get back to myself.”

Personally, I didn’t think Embiid looked any bigger than he typically does. But then again, 50 extra pounds on a seven-footer probably doesn’t really look like much.

Regardless of his weight, it was great seeing the big guy back on the floor. He and his Sixers have six games remaining during the regular season. As of now, Philly is the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they’ll have to win a play-in game to secure their playoff spot if the season ended today.