Joel Embiid Gets Honest About Knee Issues: 'Depressing'

Joel Embiid has opened up about his struggles with his left knee and how difficult it has been mentally and physically to overcome.

After he recorded 31 points and 12 rebounds in the 76ers’ 108-100 win against the Bulls on Sunday, he was asked what the past couple of months have been like for him.

“Depressing,” Embiid said, via ESPN. “Just trying to figure it out. There’s no injury. Just between the swelling … we’ve got to get it figured out. That’s it.

“I’ve been saying it for the last few months. It’s been extremely depressing. It’s something that hasn’t been figured out, and it’s been extremely annoying, because I would love to play every single game.”

Without it’s star players for much of the first part of the season, Philly has struggled big time.

The team are 7-15 right now and their Big Three of Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey have played a grand total of 32 minutes together.

Things seemed to be on the up Sunday, since the trio played their longest stint together yet and outscored the Bulls by 14 points in that stretch.

Despite the rough start and health issues for all of the team’s Big Three members, Embiid thinks they can turn things around.

“It starts with health,” Embiid told ESPN. “It felt good to have the guys on the floor. I believe if we’re healthy, and we’re on the floor, we have a chance against anybody, and I like what we have.

“I think the whole thing is about health … that’s what it comes down to. I wish I could have been playing from the beginning. I would love to play every single game, every single minute, but sometimes your body just says, ‘No,’ and you can’t do nothing about it. All you can do is just keep working to fix it and get better.”