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Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid wants to be on the floor. So much so, that missing games have left him feeling depressed.

"Depressing," Embiid told ESPN when asked what the past couple of months have been like for him. "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."

Embiid said that he's still working through issues with his knee, despite returning to play on Sunday.

"I think the whole thing is about health ... that's what it comes down to," Embiid said. "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."

Via Tim Bontemps/ESPN

My guess is he'll have to get his weight down if he's going to be able to play really at all if his knee's are this bad.

This is what we call KARMA.

Sixers fans call Joel Embiid “depressing”

For those of us who have watched the NBA since the 80's, the entirety of today's game is "depressing."

A moment of silence for those who drafted Embiid in fantasy this year.

He's just too big. Shaq at his "peak" in Orlando and 2000 with the Lakers was in better physical shape than Embiid. Some of it is genetics but its also conditioning and how he plays. When Olajuwon told him to stay down in the block (similar to a QB staying in the pocket) he didn't listen. He likes to dribble around and take jump shots and move around like a guard. I think that puts more pressure on his knees. If he stays on the block most of the game and limits his movements to hook shots, square up shots, and finishing on tghe block - he'll probably be better off. I think he would certainly prolong his career and avoid some injuries.

bgrep14 wrote:My guess is he'll have to get his weight down if he's going to be able to play really at all if his knee's are this bad.

Probably too little too late.

Weight control helps prevent cartilage damage and early onset arthritis.

Once those have set in, it's rare for symptoms to materially improve (within the context of peak athletic performance at least)

My guess is a Ewing-like collapse.

In the 10 seasons between the ages of 25 and 34, Ewing missed a TOTAL of 20 out of 820 regular season games (his low was 76 and he played between 80 and 82 six seasons straight). This stretch also including playing in 106 of 107 possible playoff games (and he was suspended -- not injured -- for game 6 of the 1997 series against Miami)

And then he was immediately done.

Fell and broke his wrist in Dec 1997 and missed the rest of the season. Then had another injury plagued lockout season, culminating in the season-ending Achilles tear in warmups of game 2 of the 1999 series against Indiana.

He played a ton more games in his late 30s (206 of 246) and 14 of 16 playoff games in 2000. More games than Embiid ever could in his prime. But even when out there, he was just not effective anymore and could not move at all. Felt like it happened overnight.

Before the cliff, Ewing was 24 pts 10 rebs 3 blks 1 stl on .513 shooting.

In the last 5 years, he went for 12 pts 8 rebs 1.4 blks 0.6 stl on .453 shooting.

Medicine is better and certainly lots more rest for Embiid (and his entire generation). But you can already see it. He doesn't move well anymore. He's becoming a mummy like end-of-career Dirk.