Philadelphia 76ers Continue Supporting Joel Embiid

Sam Hinkie is gone, but the Philadelphia 76ers continue to support Joel Embiid. While the team failed to sign Dikembe Mutombo, the Sixers ensured Joel Embiid’s first day of practice had mentor Zydrunas Ilgauskas observing and cheering him on.

It was a huge day for the center from Cameroon. After two years, two foot surgeries, and even a ill-timed case of the flu, Joel Embiid participated in his first NBA practice.

His basketball playing days were temporarily halted in March 2014, when he was diagnosed with stress fractures in his back. From that it moved to diagnosing stress fracture in his foot. Then a surgery. Then a second surgery. Now 944 days later, he had the chance to finally practice…