Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid has been revealed to be dealing with more injuries than initially expected. He has been dealing with Bell’s Palsy while recovering from a knee surgery.
76ers Star Dealing With Bell’s Palsy, Vows To Continue Playing
ESPN Insider Adrian Wojnarowski has revealed that Joel Embiid has been treated for Bell’s Palsy for the past week. It is affecting the left side of his face. The condition began during the play-in victory over Miami.
ESPN Sources: Sixers star Joel Embiid has been treated for a mild case of Bell’s palsy for the past week. The condition began during the play-in victory over Miami but he has wanted to keep it private to avoid distractions for his team.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 26, 2024
Bell’s Palsy is a condition in which there is facial weakness/paralysis due to injury to the seventh facial nerve (aka the cranial nerve). Patients may have issues with winking, smile asymmetry, and mouth dropping. It’s usually caused by a virus but can also occur due to trauma.
There had been some speculation about Joel Embiid’s face. People had wondered why he was wearing sunglasses and if it was linked to an issue with his eyes. Now, it’s clear that it was linked to his Bell’s Palsy.
RE: Joel Embiid’s eye issue (that’s my beat now)
The issue may not be just affecting his eye. It appears the left side of his mouth seems a bit drooped as well.
Obviously doesn’t affect the ability to play ball as much as the eye, but just wanted to note it. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/E09KmFOsQt
— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) April 26, 2024
Embiid Won’t Quit
Despite the plethora of injuries Joel is dealing with, Sixers fans can be sure of his commitment to the franchise.
“Yes, it’s pretty annoying. My left side of my face, my mouth, and my eye. It’s been tough. But I’m not a quitter. I’m going to keep fighting through anything. It’s unfortunate, that’s the way I look at it. But it’s not an excuse. I’ve got to keep pushing,” Embiid said.
He has dealt with injuries since winter. On January 30, he suffered a meniscus injury, which led to surgery in February. Joel avoided setbacks in his recovery and returned to the lineup after an eight-week absence.
Despite facing significant injuries throughout the second half of the season and playoffs, Embiid has contributed significantly to Philadelphia’s efforts. In the initial two games, he maintained impressive averages of 31 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, despite the Sixers losing to the Knicks.
In game three, Embiid showcased his most dominant playoff performance yet. He made 13 of 19 field goal attempts and had a stellar 19-21 record from the free-throw line, resulting in a playoff career-high 50 points. It’s the first time a player has scored 20 in the playoffs with fewer than 20 field goals attempted.
Although Embiid’s availability remains uncertain in the near future due to potential setbacks, the Sixers are hopeful that he will continue to contribute to the team’s success as long as he can overcome these challenges.
