The Philadelphia 76ers have been anxiously awaiting the return of their franchise centerpiece, Joel Embiid, after an offseason filled with injury rehab and a brief suspension. That moment finally arrived on Tuesday night as Embiid suited up for his season debut against the New York Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center. However, the All-Star big man’s first game action in over six months was far from a triumphant comeback.
Embiid’s Rusty Return
In 26 minutes of playing time, Embiid struggled to find his rhythm, scoring just 13 points on a dismal 2-for-11 shooting from the field. The typically dominant center did manage to get to the free throw line consistently, knocking down 8 of 8 attempts, but his overall impact was limited. Embiid also contributed 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block in the 111-99 loss to the Knicks.
It’s all about confidence and trusting myself. Pushing off … that’s the mental hurdle that I got to get to. But I think I can still be pretty good even without that, which I’m going to get to at some point.
– Joel Embiid on regaining confidence in his left knee
Embiid acknowledged the mental and physical challenges of returning from an extended absence. The star center last played a competitive game in August when he helped lead the U.S. national team to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. His most recent appearance for the 76ers was in April when they were eliminated by the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
Chemistry Concerns
The 76ers have stumbled to a 2-8 start, and Embiid’s return alone may not be enough to right the ship. Fellow star Paul George has also been sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee, while rising guard Tyrese Maxey is out with a hamstring strain. The team is hoping that improved health and on-court chemistry can help turn their season around.
I think it’s all about us just getting on the floor together, learning how to play with each other. But health is a big thing. I’m back, PG is feeling pretty good, now we need to get Tyrese back, and once we’re all on the floor, I think we’re going to have a pretty good chance to win some games.
– Joel Embiid on the importance of the 76ers’ stars playing together
Knicks Capitalize on Embiid’s Rust
The Knicks, who have had the luxury of a consistent starting lineup featuring Jalen Brunston, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns, took advantage of Embiid’s rustiness. Towns, a New Jersey native playing in his first game against the 76ers as a Knick, set the tone early and finished with an impressive stat line of 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Yeah, obviously Joel is a great defensive player. But first game back, it takes you a little while to get into the rhythm. [Towns] did what we needed him to do, came out of the gate, got a couple of 3s, attacked the rim, played how we needed him to do.
– Knicks forward Josh Hart on Karl-Anthony Towns’ strong performance against Embiid
The Road Ahead
Despite the loss and Embiid’s lackluster season debut, the 76ers remain optimistic about their chances to turn things around. The Eastern Conference standings are tightly packed, with only the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers currently boasting winning records. This gives Philadelphia some breathing room to get healthy and build chemistry on the court.
The season’s long. I do think once we get all of our pieces together we will start making strides in the right direction. We’ll start to get some consistency and the chemistry will continue to take off.
– 76ers star Paul George on the team’s outlook
The 76ers will need Embiid to quickly shake off the rust and return to his dominant form if they hope to climb out of the Eastern Conference cellar. With upcoming matchups against the undefeated Cavaliers and other tough opponents, the pressure is on for Philadelphia to find its footing before falling too far behind in the playoff race.
As Embiid continues to regain his conditioning and confidence, the 76ers’ faithful will be watching closely, eager for their superstar to lead the team back to the promised land. The journey may be rocky, but with a healthy and motivated Embiid at the helm, anything is possible.
