Camden, NJ – Joel Embiid is wearing a Sixers sweatshirt, holding a basketball in his hands and sitting in front of microphones on the last day of February.
Despite missing all of the month’s games due to a torn left meniscus, Embiid has recovered and confirmed Thursday that he plans to return this season.
Other than that, he didn’t provide any details on the timeline.
“It’s all about how I feel,” Embiid said. “Rehab is going well. Ups and downs, but you managed it. The goal is just to try to get as healthy as possible and bounce back.
Why the reigning MVP is aiming for a late-season comeback is currently sixth in the tight end. Eastern Conference standings?
“The same reason I pushed him the last couple of games,” Embiid said. “I just love playing basketball. I want to be on the floor. I only have 20 years to do this so I want to be on the floor every chance I get.
It doesn’t matter where we are (on the level) – four, five, three, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11. It doesn’t matter where we are, I want to play like me. He can help us and help us.
As for that emphasis on pushing, Embiid said Jonathan Kuminga wouldn’t have handled the stretch before landing on his left knee.
Embiid missed five games in January because of the strained knee, including the two before the nightmare game against the Warriors.
It wasn’t (just) about those last couple of games. “It was the same thing that was happening two weeks ago, I felt like I wasn’t myself but I was still good to go out there because I knew I could help the team 60 or 70 percent. Lot on both ends of the floor.
“At that point we had just lost two or three games and guys were going down. Like I said, my goal is to play so I have to do whatever it takes to help the team. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Embiid called the injury “extremely frustrating” and “extremely frustrating,” though he smiled as he described his recent transition to becoming a stay-at-home dad.
“Other than rehab, family time,” he said of the past few weeks. “Honestly, this is probably the best time… my family, just being around them — my wife, my son. He is loving it now. I’m not going anywhere, I’m not doing anything. He is getting used to it. He doesn’t want me to leave the house anymore.
“It’s fun, just playing around. It is clear that he goes to school, but he spends the whole day having fun and doing many different things. Family time was great and I’m sure they are enjoying it too.
The Sixers went 4-8 without Embiid in February. Health-wise after the All-Star break, De’Anthony Melton hurt his back in Tuesday night’s loss to the Celtics and KJ Martin was sidelined with a sprained right ankle. Martin’s injury does not appear to be serious, but he is not yet back to 100 percent. At least Melton won’t be playing against the Hornets on Friday night.
“KJ went through about three quarters of practice today,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “It’s still not completely cleared to come out. That could change at any time, though. It’s getting a little better every day. And it’s thawed out, and we don’t know how long it’s going to last.”
Despite his availability, Tobias Harris has played poorly in the Sixers’ four games since the break.
Embiid needlessly mentioned the veteran on Thursday.
“I’ve learned from being around that my presence helps a lot,” he said. “I talked to Tobias for an hour the other day trying to help him.
“He is a good player. We all go through rough patches and I’m sure he’ll get through it. But I think it’s just my presence – being in the group. Obviously traveling is a bit different as I have to focus on rehab. But as much as I can be around, that’s what I do.”
As for his presence on the court, Embiid knows he will be extremely valuable if he returns this season.
“I still believe I can do better as a basketball player than the level I played at,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence in myself and I feel like I can bring a lot to the team with my impact on both ends of the floor.
“That’s why I always believe. It doesn’t matter who’s on the roster, who’s coaching. No matter the situation, I still believe I have a chance to win.”
“We were playing at a high level, especially when everyone was healthy. The way Tyrese (Maxi) played and the couple that we added… and then I believe everybody has to follow. I think we still have a good chance.