Joel Embiid’s journey over the past two seasons has been anything but smooth. A serious knee injury forced him to miss two months during the 2023-24 campaign, and although he returned in time for the playoffs, the knee never quite held up. That setback limited him to just 19 games last season, leaving many to wonder if we’d ever see the dominant version of Embiid again-the MVP-caliber force who could take over a game on both ends of the floor.
Well, if Embiid isn’t all the way back, he’s knocking loudly on the door.
After a sluggish start to this season, the Sixers’ big man has found his rhythm again. The explosiveness, the footwork, the touch-it’s all starting to look familiar.
The guy who once looked like he was testing out his knee every time he landed now looks like he’s moving with confidence again. The numbers back it up, but more importantly, the feel is back.
He’s playing like someone who knows exactly who he is-and who knows the league hasn’t forgotten, either.
Over the last five weeks, Embiid has suited up for 14 of Philadelphia’s last 17 games. During that stretch, he’s been averaging 28.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and a block per game while shooting a smooth 53.1% from the field. Those aren’t just solid numbers-they’re elite, especially for a player still working his way back from a major knee injury.
And while the All-Star Game isn’t everything, it’s a pretty good barometer for how a player is viewed in the league. Embiid has made seven of them. Based on how he’s looked lately, an eighth could very well be on the way.
Nick Nurse certainly sees the work behind the scenes. The Sixers head coach spoke candidly about Embiid’s recovery and the uphill climb he’s faced.
"Joel's really worked hard," Nurse said. "It's been a difficult road.
That was a super serious injury, right? As we see, it takes a while to get back from that.
And his sheer size makes it even tougher. I think he's getting to a point where he's starting to feel better, and that’s showing in the way he’s playing."
Even with a limited number of games under his belt-just 25 of the Sixers’ 44 so far-Embiid is still averaging 25.1 points per game. Among Eastern Conference forwards, only Giannis Antetokounmpo has a higher scoring average (28.0), and he’s currently sidelined with a calf injury.
So no, Embiid might not be at full throttle just yet. But he’s not far off.
The touch around the rim, the midrange jumper, the defensive presence-it’s all coming back into focus. And when he’s operating at even 80%, he’s still one of the top five players in the game.
That’s not hyperbole. That’s just the reality of what a healthy-ish Joel Embiid looks like.
His teammate Tyrese Maxey doesn’t have a say in the All-Star voting, but he’s made it clear where he stands: Embiid deserves to be there.
And if the last few weeks are any indication, the rest of the league might want to start game-planning accordingly. Joel Embiid is finding his form again-and when he does, the Sixers are a different kind of problem.