A recent feature by ESPN shows how Joel Embiid didn’t advocate for himself when he was younger and how that’s created a pattern with the Sixers.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is currently working his way back from a second knee surgery in 14 months. The big fella, and superstar player, was clearly not himself in 2024-25 as he played only 19 games and averaged 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting only 44.4% from the floor and 29.9% from deep.

Batum's open comments highlight Embiid's suffering and tenacity, casting doubt on his capacity to play at a high level going forward.

That was the biggest takeaway from Dotun Akintoye’s phenomenal Joel Embiid feature that ran on ESPN on Wednesday morning. The enigmatic Philadelphia 76ers superstar provided rare access and vulnerability talking about the ups and downs of his NBA career in the type of longform piece that rarely exists in today’s media landscape.

After a disastrous season that saw the 76ers finish with a 24-58 record, their fans were relying on the offseason to offer a beacon of hope. Things looked brighter when the Sixers selected guard VJ Edgecombe with the third pick in the draft.

Joel Embiid's career faced many injuries. Nicolas Batum revealed Embiid's struggles with pain and physical sacrifices. Embiid dealt with knee issues, vision problems, and insomnia. His health impacted the Sixers' performance.

As the training camp approaches, the Philadelphia 76ers remain uncertain about Joel Embiid’s readiness. According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, the star center has yet to resume on-court basketball work.

Podcast Paul is falling apart. Joel Embiid can't get on and stay on the court. Daryl Morey said the team can't compete without them. Sigh.