Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid revealed Thursday that he has been battling a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy for the past 10 days and has been playing through it while the Sixers’ back was against the wall.
Embiid updated the media on his condition after Philadelphia’s 125-113 victory in Game 3.
Bell’s palsy causes partial paralysis of the face. In Embiid’s case, the left side of his face was affected during the ongoing series against the New York Knicks. The reigning MVP scored 50 points in Game 3, setting Embiid’s playoff total, helping Philadelphia stay in the series. There’s no set timeline for Embiid’s recovery.
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Joel Embiid, No. 21 of the Philadelphia 76ers, watches the first quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center on April 2, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
As part of sharing his diagnosis, Embiid said he is seeking treatment but plans to build up his strength during the playoffs to get through this troubling condition.
“My body just wasn’t feeling it,” Embiid said when he first identified the symptoms.
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Embiid still suffers from migraines and rapid dryness in his left eye.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, 21, hits Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in San Francisco. 23 years old) trying to pass around him. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Fans noticed that Embiid’s face stiffened slightly during Monday’s Game 2 broadcast. Embiid appeared surprised during the free throw attempt, as his left eye was unable to blink in conjunction with his right eye.
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“Yes, it’s quite noticeable. The left side of my face, my mouth, my eyes. It’s been tough. But I haven’t given up. I’m going to keep fighting no matter what. It’s unfortunate, that’s how I look. ‘But that’s not an excuse for me to keep pushing. ”
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots #5 Precious Achiuwa of the Toronto Raptors during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center on December 22, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Embiid first noticed symptoms on April 17 after playing against the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. In this series, the center wore glasses in his postgame interview, which Embiid admitted was due to partial paralysis in his face.
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“It’s not necessarily getting better,” Embiid added. “Given what I’ve been talking about, it could take weeks or even months.
“I just hope it stays that way. I have a beautiful face. I don’t like it when my mouth points in the wrong direction. It’s an unfortunate situation, but everything happens for a reason.”
