“I’m always going to fight”: Philadelphia 76ers’ nightmare finally ends as Joel Embiid is ready to return after injuries nearly derailed his NBA career

Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers were in a dwindle, for the most part anyway. The front office still stood by him, and the Sixers big man is now ready for some action; in fact, he is coming for the elite stars.

After being sidelined by injuries for months, the Philadelphia 76ers center has re-emerged as a driving force in the Eastern Conference. It was not easy for the Sixers and for him. At one point, even Embiid questioned whether his best days were behind him.Now, his presence feels stabilizing again. Philadelphia looks different when he plays. The offense flows with purpose. The defense bends around his size and timing.

As the franchise lived with uncertainty around its cornerstone, Embiid’s return, by default, is a huge relief for the Sixers.

Joel Embiid details his return following injury

Two months ago, Joel Embiid was wrestling with doubt after multiple procedures on his left knee. The league MVP from 2023 had gone from dominance to limitation, trapped in a body that refused to cooperate.“I was like, I don’t know if I could ever get back to that point,” Embiid told the California Post in an exclusive interview.

“But I’m back.”

The numbers support that claim. Over his past 20 games, Embiid has averaged 29.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. He followed a 37-point night against Sacramento with a 40-point, 11-rebound performance against New Orleans.

Joel Embiid addresses criticism following his injury battle

Injuries shortened his last two seasons and sparked conversations about decline and even retirement. Embiid heard all of it.“It’s hard,” Embiid said. “It’s like when people say, he’s lazy, this and that.

First of all, you can’t be lazy if you start playing basketball at 16 and then make it to the league in three years. And injuries and injuries, keep getting back up and being an Olympian and all the other stuff that I have accomplished. It’s been tough. But I’m always going to fight.”His trainer Drew Hanlen emphasized the unseen work behind the comeback, “It’s not like there’s some magic new surgery that wasn’t announced,” Hanlen said.

“That’s not true. He only had the ones that were announced.”

Joel Embiid is the missing piece of the puzzle for the Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia’s record reflects Embiid’s value. The 76ers are 18-12 with him this season. Without him, they are 11-10 and average 113.8 points per game, per StatMuse. His presence eases pressure on Tyrese Maxey and forces defenses to react before the ball even moves.

Joel Embiid is coming for the throne

Even former skeptics are adjusting. ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins recently said, “I’d like to issue an apology to Daryl Morey and Joel Embiid because I didn’t expect this.”Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who once coached Embiid, offered a simpler assessment. “Joel is the most talented player that I’ve ever coached.”“Whatever I did two years ago,” he said, “I think I can do it again.”In the loss to the Lakers, Embiid scored 35 points in 39 minutes with 7 rebounds and assists.