As if clockwork, Joel Embiid is once again in the middle of an intermittent injury-related absence for the Philadelphia 76ers, subject of the biggest suprise of the season, albeit for the worst reason. Initially pegged as the biggest obstacle to the defending champions, the team has quickly morphed into the laughingstock of the NBA, at least for the first 16 games of the current campaign.
To the surprise of no one, the naysayers of Embiid have been rejoicing so far. Aside from the fact that the 76ers are in a downward spiral, but the 2023 Most Valuable Player has already made several rounds at the cruz of league circles with hsi string of fines, suspension, and the proverbial affliction from the Philly-obsessed injury bug.
In fact, you would be surprised at the amount of fans who are getting increasingly frustrated over Embiid still being at the forefront of affairs in Philadelphia. Amid this horrible start, some fans are calling for a full-blown rebuild, even though the 76ers have just gone all-in following an offseason largesse for the next four to five years.
Bold revelation hints at 76ers growing weary with Joel Embiid
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the 76ers and Embiid consulted six, different medical specialists prior to the franchise inking the superstar to a three-year maximum extension to the end that both camps find an adequate way to preserve his body for the long-term.
Yet this one seems like mere grandstanding on the part of the team to appease their superstar. For as good as Embiid is, his availability is nearly anyone’s guess on a nightly basis. Pushed a tad further, this could be the 76ers starting to slowly show how antsy they are with the superstar.
No matter what happens, the 76ers will go where Embiid takes them — that is elementary and an honest-to-goodness fact. But how long will the franchise remain willing to have a walking unknown as their center of gravity for years to come? The affirmative answer is very likely not as resolute as it once was.
If there’s one thing to deduce from all these while reading the lines, it’s that the 76ers are finally starting to come to terms with the constant that Joel Embiid will not be an available catalyst on a nightly basis, especially as he gets older. He may still be as good as anyone, but at this point, it is not extreme to connect the dots and conclude that his body may not be able to handle his talent for much longer.