Joel Embiid has given everything he’s had to the city of Philadelphia and the 76ers franchise.
Yet he feels as though he doesn’t get the proper respect for everything he’s gone through, because of the time he’s missed with injuries over the course of his career.
The 30-year-old franchise star, has missed 372 regular-season games, including all four so far this season.
Since being drafted with the third overall pick in 2014, Embiid has missed eight playoff games as well.
Last season, he missed 43 games with a torn meniscus in his left knee, eventually returning right before the playoffs, only to injure his face, causing him to play with Bell’s pals.
The criticism of the former-MVP being able to stay healthy and on the court has only ramped up, which led Embiid to sound off to reporters this week.
“When I see people saying, ‘He doesn’t want to play,’ … I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk, for people to be saying that. So I do think it’s b*******,” Embiid said, specifically referencing a Philadelphia Inquirer column that called for fans to receive refunds when Embiid doesn’t play.
“… I’ve done way too much for this f****** city to be treated like this.”
Embiid went on to list all the times he has played when he probably would have been better off sitting out.
Broken fingers, knee ailments, multiple facial fractures, the list of Embiid’s injury history goes on and on.
His body is like the game of Operation. Broken bones and torn ligaments everywhere.
Yet Embiid still tries to play through the pain.
“I’ve done it. From what I can tell you, I’ve broken my face twice, came back early with the risk of losing my vision, had broken fingers (and) I still came back,” Embiid said.
“I wish I was as lucky as other ones,” he said later. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I am pretty soon.”
Embiid came out before the season had started and said he probably won’t be playing in any more back to back games for the rest of his career, which caught the ire of TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
The seven-time All-Star is hoping to return to the court soon, as he has ramped up his practice workload.
And the 76ers can’t wait that much longer, after already stumbling to a 1-3 start.
Not to mention that Embiid’s supposed star running mate, and expensive free agent acquisition, Paul George, has also been out due to injury.
It’s Groundhog Day all over again for Philadelphia.
Whether the criticism towards Embiid is fair or not, probably lands somewhere in the middle.
But, for a man that just signed a three-year, $192.9 million maximum contract extension, he has to be on the court.
It is frustrating for everyone involved, including Embiid.
Playing professional sports in Philadelphia is not for the faint of heart, Embiid knows this.
He also knows the only way to ever make them quiet is by delivering the ultimate prize – an NBA championship.
