76ers’ Joel Embiid on sick knee affecting play: ‘Laborious to have accept as true with when you find yourself now not your self’

Joel Embiid is aware of the extent he wishes to achieve to be again to the place he was once when he gained the NBA MVP award in 2023. However accidents, particularly his left knee, have stored him out of the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup ceaselessly and from returning to the participant who averaged 30 issues in line with recreation for 3 immediately seasons.All through Thursday evening’s 124-104 loss to the Boston Celtics, Embiid performed 27 mins, was once 3-of-9 from the sphere and collected most effective 3 rebounds. It was once most effective his 18th recreation of the season, with knee and foot problems forcing him to look at extra basketball than play this season.Embiid stated the day without work for the All-Superstar smash helped “a bit bit,” however he is nonetheless now not glad together with his standing total.“I’m positive you’ll be able to determine it out,”Embiid stated. “The way in which I used to be taking part in a yr in the past isn’t the way in which I’m taking part in at the moment. It sucks. … I most likely want to repair the issue, after which I will be again at that stage. However it is arduous to have accept as true with when you find yourself now not your self.”Remaining season, Embiid performed most effective 39 regular-season video games, however was once striking up the kind of numbers he needs he may just mirror. He averaged 34.7 issues in line with recreation and shot 38.8% from 3-point vary, each profession highs. He additionally averaged 11 rebounds and 5.6 assists in line with recreation, whilst taking part in just about 34 mins in line with evening.This season, his numbers are down. Embiid is taking part in simply over half-hour an evening and averaging 24.3 issues, 8.2 rebounds and four.4 assists in line with recreation, and taking pictures 45% from the sphere.The Sixers are struggling for it as they recently dangle a 20-35 report, sixth-worst within the NBA.Embiid stated that whilst he would possibly not get to 100% well being this season, he can nonetheless be helpful when he is at the ground, simply in several techniques.”I’m now not as dominant as I used to be a pair months in the past, however that doesn’t imply I nonetheless can’t have a large number of affect at the recreation,” Embiid stated. “Simply me being in the market, I feel it is helping so much — simply my presence, my skill to draw double groups, getting guys extra photographs.“However my dominant self, I’ll get there. It’s simply tricky as a result of you realize you’ll be able to achieve this a lot more. There’s no excuses; it’s simply the way in which it’s. Simply were given to stay discovering techniques to determine it out and recover.”