Joel Embiid Opens Up About Recent Battle With COVID-19: “I Really Thought I Wasn’t Going To Make It”

On Saturday night, NBA star Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers after missing nine games due to testing positive with COVID–19.

The team struggled during Embiid’s absence, winning only two of the nine games, and fought a tough battle upon his return, playing from behind nearly all evening on the way to a 121-120 double-overtime defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Wells Fargo Center.

Embiid was glad to be back and told reporters “that (COVID) jawn hit me hard” and resulted in him having trouble breathing and “headaches worse than a migraine.”

Embiid, who is vaccinated, was candid with reporters after the game, “I mean, I really thought I wasn’t going to make it,” he said. “It was that bad. I’m thankful to be sitting here,” he continued.

#Sixers Joel Embiid on having COVID: ‘That jawn hit me hard. I didn’t think I was going to make it’ pic.twitter.com/AsSUKs02gS

— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) November 28, 2021