Joel Embiid has been playing at an elite level this season He was finally selected as a starter for the 2023 NBA all-star game after multiple other starters like Kevin Durant, Zion Williamson, and Stephen Curry were sidelined due to injuries.
Embiid, Ja Morant, and Lauri Markkanen were promoted to the starter position. While a fair share of fans were still disappointed to find out that Curry, KD, and even Zion would miss this game, this news about the replacements made them feel slightly better.
Unfortunately, it now seems that the Philadelphia 76ers star doesn’t look completely healthy and available for the 2023 NBA All-Star game. This is quite concerning and fans must undoubtedly be wondering if he has any physical problems.
Will Joel Embiid play in the 2023 NBA All-Star game?
There is no denying that Embiid is playing at an MVP level so far this season. He has averaged 33.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Additionally, he has also been shooting an efficient 53.6% from the field and 35.6% from the three-point line.
When we add what he brings to the table on the defensive end, Embiid is undoubtedly one of the top players in the league. As a result, fans felt he was snubbed when he wasn’t selected as a starter prior to the other stars getting injured.
One of the major criticisms against Embiid over the years has been his health. Since he is moving at great speeds with a large frame, Joel is quite susceptible to injury. He has been relatively healthy this season and avoided having any major injuries. However, he might still miss the 2023 NBA All-Star game due to left foot soreness.
He was interviewed and asked whether he felt healthy enough to participate in the festivities. To that, he replied. “We will see how it goes. I got 3 games [before the All-Star Game]. So I’m just taking it day-by-day.”
The long NBA season takes a toll on the physical health of athletes. It is sad to see that many of our favorite stars won’t be completely healthy for this game. Embiid was selected as a replacement for an injured Kevin Durant and even he doesn’t look perfect for this game. We hope he has a speedy recovery and is good to go for the 2023 NBA All-Star game.