The Sixers let an intern oversee Joel Embiid’s rehab in his rookie season which might be the most insane twist of the process

Joel Embiid recently sat down with ESPN for one of the more personal and revealing interviews we’ve seen from him in years. For once, it wasn’t all surface-level talking points or canned answers. You could tell Embiid let his guard down a bit — reflecting on everything from fatherhood to the weight of carrying a franchise that’s let him down time and time again.

But buried within that rare vulnerability was a detail so absurd, so perfectly Sixers, it felt like satire: his rookie-year rehab was overseen by an intern.

Insane portion of the Joel Embiid story

The Joel Embiid article was incredible journalism

But also provided THEE MOST Sixers moment of all time

They drafted Embiid third overall, considered him a franchise cornerstone and a generational talent…and then left his rehab process up to an intern pic.twitter.com/IjMZc0DvCF

— Aidan Powers (@aidan_34_powers) July 16, 2025

You can’t make this up. The franchise that drafted this young prodigy of a talent 3rd overall in 2014, put his rehab in the hands of a god damn INTERN. We were truly doomed from the start.

And we wonder why he’s had so many setbacks? Why every postseason feels like we’re praying over a knee? Maybe if the organization gave a shit from day one, we wouldn’t be here.

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Don’t You Dare Question Joel Embiid’s Toughness Ever Again

For years, this fanbase has gaslit itself into thinking Joel’s body is the problem. That he’s the one holding the team back. Soft. Fragile. Doesn’t care. Always hurt. Can’t get over the hump.

But now we know what was going on behind the scenes. This man — who’s fought through a torn meniscus, busted up face, broken foot, bum knee, you name it — never even had the support system he needed to begin with. His first real experience with NBA-level training and care came under the supervision of a glorified intern. That’s the kind of thing that sets the tone for a career.

Joel’s pain tolerance isn’t the issue. The Sixers’ complete failure to support their star player from day one is.

For a full breakdown of this mega story, checkout my boss Drew Smith’s blog: Joel Embiid’s interview with ESPN shows an on-going feud with the 76ers Front Office, a locker room rat, fractured relationships, and an updated, murky timeline to return >>

Embiid’s track record

We can argue all day about Embiid’s playoff track record, but don’t act like he wasn’t set up to fail. You want to know why he breaks down every spring? Start with the Sixers medical staff. Start with the training programs. Start with the culture of incompetence that’s been rotting this franchise from the inside for over a decade.

And while Joel has certainly contributed in some regard to these mishaps and shortcomings, I can’t help but feel like he is misunderstood and under appreciated at this point. I mean this franchise has been poorly run for so long, I’m convinced not even Michael Jordan in his prime could fix it.

The more you dig into this ESPN feature, the more it feels like a eulogy for The Process. A look back at how much promise we once had… and how every step of the way, the Sixers found new ways to trip over themselves.

And that is why I have been a Joel Embiid supporter from day one and refuse to give up on him. Because despite all this bullshit, this guy just keeps fighting. Say whatever you want. I personally don’t care to hear from the Embiid haters anymore.

At the end of the day, I just want to see him healthy and in a Sixers uniform. Trading him away doesn’t fix anything. He’s the best chance we’ve got.

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