On January 30th, Joel Embiid tore his left meniscus in a game against the Golden State Warriors, which led to him having surgery to repair it on February 6th. On Thursday, Embiid talked to the media for the first time since surgery and noted that there’s no timeline for his return but the plan is for him to come back this season once he gets healthy. When asked why he should come back he said he “just loves playing basketball” and mentioned that it doesn’t matter where they are in the standings, he just wants to play with his teammates again. This all led to an obvious question that has been debated recently, should Embiid come back this season?
With and Without Embiid
One of the main reasons people are asking if Embiid should come back is that the 76ers do not seem to be good enough to win a championship this season. They were just the 3rd seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference before Embiid’s injury, and were believed by many to be at least a tier below the best teams in the league, the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Milwaukee Bucks. They have only gotten worse since Embiid's injury and are currently 34-25 making them the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. Embiid was a major difference in the 34 games he played, averaging an insane 35.3 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game, and 5.7 assists per game. In games when Embiid played this season, they were 26-8, while only 8-17 without him, including being 5-9 since Embiid’s meniscus injury. The 2023 MVP, Joel Embiid, would provide a massive boost if he were to come back, but the question remains, is their current team good enough to truly compete with the NBA’s best?
Potential 2024 Free Agency
The Sixers could be in a much better position next season, which is the other main reason people don’t want Embiid to risk another injury by playing again this season. The 76ers traded James Harden in October and the main asset they gained from the trade was major flexibility and cap space this summer. The Sixers now have the most cap space in the league and should be one of the only teams with enough available cap space to afford adding a max contract player this summer. That means anybody, yes anybody, who is scheduled to be a free agent could sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. This list includes players like Clippers SF Paul George, Pacers PF Pascal Siakam, and of course, the greatest player of all time, Lakers SF LeBron James. Any one of them could sign with the Sixers this summer, and form a super team alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Why would Embiid risk an injury during these last few months of the regular season and the postseason if they could have a team with LeBron next season?
Should He Return?
Yes. Embiid should definitely come back as soon as he is 100% healthy. The 76ers need him if they want to have any chance in the playoffs, that much is painfully obvious, but this decision goes beyond that. The main reason Embiid should come back is to prove that he has the fire inside him that champions of this sport have. He can prove that he has a bit of that Mamba Mentality by not packing it in when the going gets tough. Other players that could potentially join the 76ers this summer have eyes, and can see who the most dedicated and courageous players in the league are. Free Agents aren't going to automatically sign with whichever team makes the most sense on paper, as these are human beings making life changing and career defining decisions. They need to see Embiid dominate again. Him fighting back for his teammates this season is what will make them think, 'I would love to play with a player like that next season.' Yes, the Sixers need him to be healthy next year if they become a super team, but there won’t be a super team in Philly if Joel Embiid doesn't first prove that he has the heart of a champion.
Photos by AP Photo (Matt Slocum), Mitchell Leff, USA TODAY Sports (Bill Streicher)
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