Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night after missing nearly three weeks due to contracting COVID-19. Embiid said he was hit hard by the virus.
“I really thought I wasn’t going to make it. It was that bad. So I’m just thankful to be sitting here,” Embiid said. “I struggled with it, but I’m just glad that I got over it and I’m here doing what I love with some good people.”
Embiid played 45 minutes in the Sixers double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He scored 42 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
The All-Star center said it was good to be back, even if his conditioning still needs work. Embiid said that while he was out he “couldn’t breathe” and had headaches “worse then a migraine”.
