For Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, being sidelined due to injuries is nothing new. He has spent large chunks of his NBA career recovering and rehabilitating from various issues.
However, his latest injury – a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery – took a bigger mental toll.
Embiid admits he felt depressed during his two-month absence from the court. “This one, it took a toll mentally…it was not a good one,” he said. Even though he’s back playing now, he says he’s still not 100% mentally recovered.
The big man finally made his return on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 24 points in the 76ers’ 109-105 victory. It was an emotional night as the Philly crowd welcomed him back with roaring “MVP” chants.
Without their best player, the 76ers really struggled, going 14-27 overall and plummeting in the East standings. A team once targeting a top-four seed is now likely headed for the play-in tournament.
Joel Embiid revealed the blow of the injury, combined with watching his team lose night after night, took a major toll on his mental health and led to his depression. The 30-year-old leaned on his wife and young son to get through the tough times.
While he was thrilled to be back on the court, Embiid admitted to still feeling the effects of the long layoff, looking gassed at times. But he knocked down four huge free throws late to seal the win.
The two-time scoring champ knows he must stay healthy going forward to prolong his career. But for now, Joel Embiid is just focused on getting the 76ers back on track as they gear up for the playoffs.
