Joel Embiid returning to bench a ‘huge lift’ for Tyrese Maxey, 76ers

When the Philadelphia 76ers announced their starting lineup for the seven-eight seed Eastern Conference Play-In game against the Orlando Magic, it did not feature franchise cornerstone Joel Embiid, who has been unable to play after emergency appendectomy surgery.

Fortunately, for the first time since Embiid’s surgery, he was with the team and on the bench, helping to hype up his teammates on their way to a double-digit win over Orlando.

Asked what it meant to have Embiid back with the team, Tyrese Maxey couldn’t have been more excited, noting that the “Process'” presence was absolutely felt.

“Huge man, huge,” Maxey said. “Kyle called me two days ago, so Monday, he called me. He said, ‘Man, what do you think about Joel coming to the game?’ Like it would just be a huge lift. I’m like, ‘Yeah, I mean, if he can, he’s up to it.’ And we didn’t even ask him, I said, ‘Just if he can, he will.’ And he was there, you know what I mean? I talked to him via phone, and I was surprised to see him there. I gave him a big hug. I was glad to see him, and his spirits are high, so we’re happy for him.”

Will Embiid eventually get cleared to return to the court for the 76ers as they look to take on the Boston Celtics in a best-of-seven series? That’s hard to say, but the 76ers are unquestionably a better team when Embiid is around, even if he’s only on the bench in street clothes.

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