Attention basketball fanatics! Joel Embiid has returned to the court with the 76ers, marking his first appearance in a game in almost eight months. The long-awaited return took place in a preseason game against the Timberwolves. The game, although preseason, left positive feelings in both Embiid and the team, who won with a score of 126-110 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. Tyrese Maxey, who scored 27 points, expressed the joy shared by the team to see Embiid back in action.
The last time Embiid played for the 76ers was on February 22, followed by surgery on his left knee. After weeks of practice, including a scrimmage open to the public, Embiid showed encouraging performance, accumulating 14 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 4 turnovers in 18:35 minutes of play.I think the most important thing I felt was joy and how happy he was to be there, and how happy I was for him.
Tyrese Maxey
Embiid, visibly thinner, moved with ease, demonstrating that he has overcome the knee problems that affected his performance. Coach Nick Nurse called his performance “very good”, highlighting his mobility, shots and passes.I don’t want to think about the past. I’m in a good mental and physical place. I’m happy to touch the ball and be able to play basketball and do what I love.
Joel Embiid
I won’t say I feel like I’m 18 again. That’s never going to happen. But I’m taking it day by day. Like I said, just learning. Some days will be good, some days I’ll be a little tense, so I’ll learn from it, adjust, and keep doing the right things.
Joel EmbiidIn addition to Embiid, the team had other positives. VJ Edgecombe, the third pick in the NBA draft, shone with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals, while Quentin Grimes, in his preseason debut, scored 22 points. Regarding Paul George, he is still recovering from knee surgery and is not expected to play at the start of the season.
