Joel Embiid RETURNS vs the Hawks!
The Philadelphia 76ers finally saw the return they’ve been waiting nearly a month for: Joel Embiid back in the starting lineup. After missing nine straight games with soreness in his right knee, the former MVP Joel Embiid logged 30 minutes in a double-overtime thriller against Atlanta, a game the Sixers lost 142–134 thanks to Jalen Johnson’s career-night takeover.
For Joel Embiid, it was a mixed return.
He finished with 18 points (6–14 FG), 4 rebounds, a steal and a block, but looked physically conservative at times, a reminder of the uncertainty surrounding his long-term durability. The Sixers are now 4–3 with him this season, and 6–10 without him.
The bigger story isn’t the numbers, it’s the instability.
Joel Embiid has played only 6 of 20 games, averaging 19.7 points and 5.5 rebounds, and continues to battle the same recurring issue that has followed him since college: injuries everywhere, in every form.
This is a superstar whose medical log reads like a novel, stress fractures, foot breaks, torn meniscus, orbital bone fractures, sprains, tendinitis, a sinus fracture, even Bell’s palsy. Last season alone, he was limited to 19 games, underwent knee surgery in April, and was eventually ruled out for the season.
And yet, the Sixers are tied to him for the long haul.
Philadelphia handed Embiid a three-year, $193M extension that doesn’t even begin until next season, committing to him through at least the 2028–29 player option. They doubled down on a core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, but the trio has played zero meaningful minutes together until today.
Their window is now.
The Sixers’ upcoming stretch features Washington, Golden State, Milwaukee, and the Lakers, a brutal seven-day run that might determine how competitive this roster can be when healthy… assuming “healthy” is still a realistic expectation.
The question hanging over everything:
How reliable is a franchise built around a star who hasn’t played 60+ games since 2018–19?
The return of Joel Embiid gives Philadelphia hope. His presence gives them structure, rim protection, scoring versatility, and a chance to contend. But as the league continues to move toward durability and nightly availability, the Sixers are once again forced into familiar territory:
Balancing championship ambition with injury roulette.
If Philadelphia is ever going to make a run with this core, it starts with Embiid being able to stay on the floor, not for a game, not for a week, but for a season. The Big Three era finally began tonight.
Now the question is:
How long will it last?
