Joel Embiid really wants to get back on the court for the Philadelphia 76ers. Though he got to hilariously ring the bell for the team on the court before Game 1, Embiid still has not seen the postseason since breaking a bone in his face and requiring surgery shortly before the end of the regular season.
Embiid cleared concussion protocol but did not play in Monday night’s Game 2 against the Miami Heat, so he had to watch as Dwyane Wade caught fire and evened the series at one. Afterward, Embiid posted to Instagram that the Sixers were being too careful with him and that he was “f*cking sick and tired of being babied.”
Early Tuesday morning, Embiid clarified his comments with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, saying he’s desperate to get back into the lineup and make a difference for the Sixers now that they’re finally in the postseason.
Joel Embiid to ESPN on the frustration behind his IG post from earlier, “I promised the city the playoffs and I’m not on the court and I may not be on Thursday either. I wish more than anything that I was out there. I just want the green light to play.”
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 17, 2018
Complaining about your own team and medical staff on social media is never really a good idea, but when he lays it out like that it’s easy to see why he’s frustrated. Even Brett Brown noted this when alerted to the Instagram post in his postgame press conference. Embiid has taken on a huge responsibility in Philadelphia, taking on the nickname of an entire franchise’s rebuild that is finally coming to fruition. To not be allowed on the court for these big games must be frustrating, but his time is coming.
Most expect Embiid to get his wish and be back on the floor for the Sixers soon, but sometimes even he forgets that you have to trust the process to get him back out there safely.
