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Joel Embiid puts together strong outing in his return to action.
While injuries continue to plague his career, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid has still managed to cement himself among the top stars of his generation. Following his latest dominant showing, one trainer gave a bold stance on where the former MVP belongs in all-time debates.
With his combination of size and shooting touch, Embiid has been a nightmare for opposing defenses for years now. Even with his body giving him issues, he’s put together countless impressive offensive showings for the Sixers. Embiid came out of the gates slow, leading to many believing his peak was over. However, the All-Star big man has since shown he still has something left in the tank.
On February 24th, Embiid made his return to the Sixers’ lineup after being sidelined for the first three games out of the All-Star break. He left his mark all over the matchup against the depleted Indiana Pacers, notching 27 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Coming off an impressive showing in his first game back in weeks, longtime NBA trainer Drew Hanlen gave his thoughts on the Sixers’ star. Still putting up historic offensive numbers, he dubbed Embiid the best scoring big man the league has ever seen.
Seeing that the game has had historic big men like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Wilt Chamberlain (among others), this is incredibly high praise for Embiid.
Legendary Coach Praises Joel Embiid Following Sixers’ Win vs Pacers
In the past, we’ve seen Embiid need time to get back in a groove after being sidelined for weeks. However, that was not the case on Tuesday against the Pacers. He quickly left his mark on the game while leading the Sixers to a dominant 135-114 victory.
Among those to sing Embiid’s praises for his showing against Indiana was legendary college coach Jay Wright. He was blown away to see the Sixers’ big man have such a strong outing in his first taste of action since February 7th.
Embiid shot 11-for-17 from the field against the Pacers (64.7%), which marks his third-most efficient outing of the season thus far. His best one being when he shot 71.4% against the Washington Wizards on January 7th (10-for-14 FG).
Joel Embiid Expected to Remain in Sixers Lineup in Upcoming Matchup vs Heat
Given his extensive injury history, the Sixers have known to be cautious with Embiid in an effort to keep him on the floor consistently. Looking ahead to their upcoming matchup, all signs point towards the superstar center being in the lineup.
Coming off their victory in Indiana, the Sixers now return home to face off against Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat. Per the latest injury report, Embiid should be available. As of now, he is listed as probable due to right knee management and shin soreness.
Embiid being suiting up will be a nice treat for Sixers fans, as they’ll get to see him in action on their home floor. The last time he was in action at Xfinity Mobile One Arena was on January 31st against the New Orleans Pelicans. This game ended up being among his most dominant outings this season, erupting for 40 points and 11 rebounds in a win.
Kevin McCormick is a veteran sports writer covering the NBA for Heavy.com. After writing for Heavy briefly in 2022, he’s returned to the publication in 2026. McCormick brings with him over seven years of experience writing about the NBA in a newsroom and served as a credentialed reporter of the Philadelphia 76ers for 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, and On SI. More about Kevin McCormick
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