Joel Embiid’s Resurgence Is No Fluke - It’s a Testament to Persistence, Planning, and the Power of Belief
PHILADELPHIA - Joel Embiid is moving with purpose again, and if you’ve watched the Sixers lately, you know exactly what that means. After a tough stretch last season that saw him limited to just 19 games before undergoing another surgery on his left knee, the reigning MVP is reminding everyone why he’s still one of the most dominant forces in the game.
Saturday night against the Pelicans, Embiid dropped 40 points and pulled down 11 boards - a performance that wasn’t just impressive, it was symbolic. Symbolic of a player who’s not just back, but thriving. On the season, he’s averaging 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists - numbers that speak volumes, especially considering where he was less than a year ago.
To say this bounce-back has been surprising wouldn’t be wrong - even Embiid admits as much.
“Honestly, it’s surprising,” he said after the win. “Coming into this year, I thought it was gonna be more of a tryout year.”
That “tryout year” mindset wasn’t about proving himself to the league - Embiid’s résumé speaks for itself. It was about testing the limits of his body, seeing how the knee would respond, and figuring out how to build a sustainable path forward.
This season was supposed to be about survival. Instead, it’s looking more like a revival.
The key? A meticulous, day-by-day approach crafted by the Sixers’ medical staff and implemented by head coach Nick Nurse and his team.
The plan has been cautious but smart - giving Embiid at least two days off between games early in the season before gradually shifting to an every-other-day rhythm. So far, it’s working.
“Everything is going well,” Embiid said. “Coming into the year, it was all about figuring out, what are we going to do every single day?
So to me, this year’s already a success. But that doesn't change my mentality as far as wanting to get better every single day.”
That daily grind - the commitment to the process - is what’s powering this resurgence. Embiid isn’t just showing up and hoping for the best.
He’s locked in, following a plan that’s tailored to his body, his recovery, and his long-term goals. And it’s paying off.
He credits the surgical work of Dr. Jonathan Glashow, who performed his knee procedure in April. But Embiid is quick to point out that the real unsung hero in all of this is someone fans probably haven’t heard much about: Simon Rice, the Sixers’ VP of athletic care.
“When it comes to everything, I would say probably everybody gave up on me,” Embiid said. “He’s the one guy that just kept trying to figure out, what can we do? How can he help me?”
Rice’s behind-the-scenes work - the hours spent tweaking schedules, adjusting rehab plans, and staying in constant communication with Embiid - has been instrumental. In a league where star players’ health can make or break a season, having someone in your corner who refuses to give up matters. A lot.
“He’s in the background. No one is ever going to mention his name and talk about him, but he’s the guy,” Embiid said.
Now, as the Sixers prepare for a challenging five-game West Coast road trip starting Monday against the Clippers, the stakes are rising. But so is Embiid. He’s not just managing his knee - he’s managing expectations, leading by example, and showing that with the right plan and people around you, even the most daunting comebacks are possible.
This isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a blueprint for how to bring a superstar back to form - and maybe, just maybe, back into the MVP conversation.