Paul George on Joel Embiid: “I don’t think there’s any pressure on him to do anything extra”

I asked Embiid if the urgency of a 2-8 start and the slowing down of his best years has pushed him to return sooner rather than work slower during the regular season, as was his long-term plan. He recalled his rookie season, when he missed two years of rehab after suffering multiple foot surgeries. Embiid walked out of the gate winning Rookie of the Year despite the Sixers keeping him out of all but one game in the second half of the season. “We were still really competitive,” he said of the 28-54 season. “And even that year, if they had let me finish the year, I really thought we had a chance at the playoffs. I mean, the urgency, of course. But you also have to understand that we’re not healthy. Everyone is returning. “Like I said, the way the last few years have gone, I think we have a pretty good chance when we’re on the field (together).” -via New York Times / 13 November 2024