Something has been visibly off about Joel Embiid in the Philadelphia 76ers' first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, and it hasn't just been the usual injuries.
His play doesn't seem to have been affected, but fans who thought they spotted something different were vindicated after Thursday's Game 3 win over the New York Knicks.
Adrian Wojnarowski broke some surprising news about Embiid's health.
ESPN Sources: Sixers star Joel Embiid has been treated for a mild case of Bell’s Palsey for the past week. The condition began during the play-in victory over Miami but he has wanted to keep it private to avoid distractions for his team.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 26, 2024
76ers News: Joel Embiid Dealing With Bell's Palsy
Woj reports that Embiid is dealing with a "mild case" of Bell's Palsy since the play-in game against the MIami Heat, and that the Sixers star is being treated for the condition.
For those unfamiliar with Bell's Palsy, Johns Hopkins Medicine describes it as "an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis that usually resolves on its own and causes no complications."
You never like to see a surprise unexplained condition pop up for anyone, but there doesn't seem to be much reason for concern. Johns Hopkins also explains the following about the cause: "The cause of Bell's palsy is unknown but is thought to be caused by inflammation affecting the body's immune system."
Considering Embiid just dropped a 50-burger on the Knicks in Game 3, I don't think we need to be concerned about the on-court ramifications either.
It was nice of Woj to wait until after a performance like this so that Embiid's desire to "avoid distractions" could be upheld. Watching him put up one of the best performances of the playoffs thus far should go a long way to easing any concerns fans might have.
Of course we're all first and foremost concerned with Jo's health and well-being, but if Embiid, his doctors and the team all think he's okay to play, fans can feel good about that being the right choice.
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