Apr 28, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on during a break in action in the second half against the New York Knicks in game four of the first round in the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Bill Streicher
Joel Embiid and Paul George were full participants in Friday's practice, a Sixers official told On Pattison.
That includes five-on-five scrimmaging with the team.
Embiid spoke to reporters after practice, his first media availability since Training Camp in the Bahamas.
He made it clear that the mental hurdle of trusting his knee has been a factor in his delayed season debut.
But, Embiid also made it known that he's aware of the criticisms levied his way recently and does not appreciate them. At all.
"I've broken my face twice. I came back early with the risk of losing my vision. Had broken fingers. I still came back. So, 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," Embiid said.
"I do think it's bullshit. Like that dude, he's not here, Marcus [Hayes], I've done way too much for this fucking city to be treated like this. Done way too fucking much. I wish I was as lucky as other ones. But, that doesn't mean that I'm not trying and I'm not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I'm going to be here pretty soon."
The criticism of Hayes, a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, ostensibly stems from an opinion piece written ahead of last week's season-opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Hayes wrote the following and immediately received significant backlash for it:
You have to have a certain daring personality to be a columnist at a major newspaper. But, a general rule, leave family out of it. There are less personal ways to make your point.
Hayes, by the way, eventually apologized:
So, I rewrote the lede to my column and replaced the picture. I can see why so many people were upset about it. Sorry about that.
Thanks for all of the constructive criticism. https://t.co/GE8xIHc22z
Anyway, neither Embiid nor George will suit up for Saturday's game against the 3-3 Memphis Grizzlies. With a three-game road trip out west immediately following, the Sixers, 1-3, need their two stars out there before the hill becomes too steep to climb.
It's too early for alarm bells. But, there's already some pressure imposed by losses to the lowly Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons and other teams in the Eastern Conference off to hot starts.
