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Source: Mitchell Leff / Getty

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid is clapping at critics questioning his desire to play.

Embiid has yet to play a game this season due to “left knee management” and while it remains unclear if Embiid is hurt, the superstar center has been receiving criticism from fans questioning his commitment.

According to reports from Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Embiid said he is “trending in the right way,” and expects to be back in the lineup “pretty soon” after missing the Sixers’ first four games of the season.

However, Embiid also has a message for the haters.

“From what I can tell you…I have broken my face twice, I came back early with the risk of losing vision,” Embiid said. “…When I see people saying, ‘He doesn’t want to play,’ I’ve done way too much for this city putting myself at risk for people to be saying that,” he continued.

Check out the video below:

Both Embiid and wing Paul George, who also has yet to play for the 76ers this season due to a knee ailment, practiced in full Friday and took part in five-on-five scrimmages, according to reports from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

However, there isn’t yet a timeline for the return of Embiid or George, but they were both ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

When the 76ers held Embiid out of their lineup to start the 2024-25 season, the NBA launched an investigation into the Sixers’ handling of Embiid and the NBA determined that comments made by 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse were “inconsistent with Joel Embiid’s health status and in violation of NBA rules,” so the organization was fined $100,000.

Philly is currently off to a 1-3 start.

Joel Embiid Claps Back At Critics Questioning His Devotion To The Game  was originally published on ronernbphilly.staging.go.ione.nyc