Joel Embiid sends quiet but powerful message and 76ers fans must take notice

Nobody believed that Joel Embiid would come close to returning to the physically dominant specimen he exhibited before he sustained a devastating left knee injury against the Golden State Warriors, almost two seasons ago. However, after an encouraging run of consecutive selections in the starting five, Embiid is displaying that both his mobility and trust levels in the strength of his knee are improving.

The 2023 NBA's Most Valuable Player has had a torrid time with injuries throughout his professional career. None of which has hindered his ability to command proceedings quite like this one. After being restricted to just 19 regular-season appearances in the previous campaign -- a feat he has already matched this season (18) -- Embiid underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery in one last desperate attempt to salvage his career.

Fortunately for the Philadelphia 76ers, this decision has slowly proved to be a stroke of genius by everybody involved, as now, their superstar is once again becoming an essential component in the franchise's success.

Elite Embiid can still emerge

Early performances after said surgery showed promise, but highlighted several limitations that would prevent Embiid from returning to the dizzying heights of his sensational career. Even on one leg, the 31-year-old was chalking up points to prove that his offensive prowess remained intact. Defense was the most concerning aspect of his return.

Whether it was the anxiety of aggravating the injury that had plagued him of late, or it was a restricted range of motion due to the nature of his surgery, Embiid was a mere shell of the defensive stalwart that 76ers fans once witnessed.

Nevertheless, in recent fixtures, Embiid has shown glimpses that these worries are firmly in the rear-view mirror and that he is ready to strike fear into the hearts of the opposition once again. Over his last seven appearances, he has averaged 28.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, four assists, and 1.3 blocks per game.

What should stand out most here for Sixers fans is the upturn in his rebounding presence. Nick Nurse had begun to include more athletic defenders, such as Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona, in rotations with Embiid to reduce the physical toll that the center has to endure. This no longer appears to be a problem. During Philadelphia's 103-91 triumph over the Orlando Magic, Embiid snatched nine rebounds, showing that his reliability in his knee has improved.

Finally, in an attempt to excite Embiid fanatics further, the big man has begun throwing down vicious dunks -- yes, he is back. With around seven minutes left on the clock, Embiid bullied Wendell Carter Jr. to the floor, then attacked the rim with aggressive intent and slammed the ball home to get to the foul line. This action finished with a signature Joel Embiid dance move that should be left to the imagination.

Has Joel Embiid reached the prime version of himself that can he single-handedly hand the Philadelphia 76ers a championship? Certainly not. However, what we are witnessing is a substantial improvement in his mobility. Not only this, but Embiid is clearly developing trust that his knee will not shatter every time he performs a heavy landing. This is the version of their superstar that Philadelphia had been praying could return to the floor.