Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is on track to make his long awaited NBA debut during the team’s preseason, according to head coach Brett Brown.
Brown spoke to Zach Lowe on his podcast “The Lowe Past” earlier in the week to discuss the matter (via Derek Bodner of Philadelphia Magazine).
“I just left my third consecutive day working out with Joel 45 minutes ago,” Brown told Lowe. “Physically, mentally, recent medical scans, everything is pointing in the right direction. We’re just very excited.”
Lowe then asked if Embiid is on track to play in the preseason.
“Yes, he is”, Brown responded without hesitation.
Sixers fans have eagerly anticipated this news for quite some time, ever since the team drafted Embiid with its #3 overall pick in 2014.
Philly’s decision to draft Embiid backfired at first. Embiid would wind up missing his first two seasons with the team due to a fractured navicular bone in his right foot.
Despite his career getting off to a rocky start, Embiid finally seems destined to hit the hardwood and check into his first professional game this October. Embiid is expected by many to become a star in the NBA down the road, and the pressure surrounding the Kansas product and former #3 overall pick to become something great has never been bigger.
The 76ers’ first preseason game is against the Boston Celtics on October 4th.
