Despite Joel Embiid 's victorious return, former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas threw caution to the wind and offered valuable advice to the Philadelphia 76ers' star center. In the Gils Arena Show, Arenas advised Embiid to prioritize his health over trying to prove his toughness.
Arenas' words of wisdom came as JoJo returned to the court in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder after being sidelined for nine weeks due to a torn meniscus on his left knee that needed surgery to repair.
While many fans were eager to see the MVP contender return, Gil reminded them that it's not worth risking long-term damage for short-term success. He emphasized that no one cares about players playing through injuries and urged Embiid to ensure he's operating at full strength before playing and taking on his usual load on both ends of the floor.
Go full speed or sit down
Arenas knows full well how a knee injury can derail a career. Late in the 2007 season, he tore his MCL and was never quite the same after that injury. Meanwhile, Embiid suffered a similar injury last January 30 in a game against the Golden State Warriors, the latest in a career riddled with numerous injuries.
Without Embiid, the Sixers tumbled down the standings and now sit in eighth place, one and a half games behind the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference standings. Arenas implored Embiid to consider the long-term implications of playing through injuries.
When JoJo steps between the lines of an NBA floor, Arenas emphasizes that nobody will take it easy on him because he's dealing with an injury. Players will be coming at him with everything they have, and the risk of re-injury is high.
"What is your upside? What do you actually gain in this moment? Because no matter what's wrong with your knee, we don't care. If you're not averaging 36 and 20, we don't give a f*** about your knee. When you're out there, if you're averaging 19 and 12, we're not giving you the benefit of the doubt," Arenas said .
Arenas furthered that a player of Embiid's status should not risk re-injury to prove his doubters wrong. As Gil bluntly put it, "No one cares."
"Do not go out there and play injured to prove to us you're injured. Either you are healthy, and you're going full bore, or sit down. That 50% shit only works for your coach. Fans, the media, the other team, does not give two sh**s about the excuse," Arenas added.
Go for the championship?
If nothing changes between now and the Play-in Tournament, the Sixers will likely face off against juggernaut Boston Celtics. With Embiid still rounding into shape, Philadelphia's chances of winning the championship this season are slim, leading Arenas to surmise Joel may be better off getting his knee back to 100% rather than risk further injury in the playoffs.
"What is your upside? Is your upside to get out of the first round, to get into the second, to get out of the second round? If it ain't the championship, then why are you jeopardizing being injured, tweaking something so you're f****g your summer up? Like, that'd be the dumbest thing you can do—to reinjure, to retweak it. Now, the first two months of your summer, you're rehabbing," Arenas added.
Agent Zero has provided some critical insights for Embiid after his highly anticipated return to the court. He clearly has a wealth of experience and knowledge about the mental and physical challenges faced by athletes, especially regarding injuries. His advice reminds us that an athlete's health should always come first.
With the playoffs approaching, the reigning MVP must stay true to himself and not succumb to pressure or expectations from others. After all, as Arenas wisely states, "no one cares" in the grand scheme of things.
Related: Joel Embiid said coach kicked him out of his first high school practice in the U.S.: "All my teammates were laughing at me"
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