Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis that has affected him since before the play-in tournament. Despite the challenges, Embiid remains resilient and determined to keep pushing forward.
Embiid first noticed symptoms of Bell’s palsy about a “day or two” before the Sixers played the Miami Heat on April 17 in the play-in tournament. He experienced blurred vision, dry eyes, and weakness on the left side of his face. Despite these difficulties, he managed to contribute 23 points and 15 rebounds in the win that sent the Sixers to the playoffs.
In a postgame interview, Embiid revealed that he had been wearing sunglasses throughout the series to hide his symptoms. His performance in Game 3 was nothing short of remarkable: he scored 50 points, made 19 of 21 free throws, and hit five 3-pointers. However, behind the scenes, he was dealing with the challenges posed by Bell’s palsy.
Joel Embiid refuses to surrender
Embiid’s resilience shines through as he refuses to let the condition define him. “Yes, it’s pretty annoying,” he said. “My left side of my face, my mouth, and my eye. It’s been tough. But I’m not a quitter. I’m going to keep fighting through anything. It’s unfortunate, that’s the way I look at it. But it’s not an excuse. I’ve got to keep pushing.”
Joel Embiid acknowledges that there is no fixed timeline for recovery from Bell’s palsy. “It hasn’t really necessarily gotten better,” he explained. “With the conversations that I’ve had, it could be weeks, it could be months. I just hope that it stays like this. I’ve got a beautiful face. I don’t like when my mouth is looking the other way. Unfortunate situation but everything happens for a reason.”
Joel Embiid on his battle with Bell's Palsy.
"Pretty annoying with the left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. It's been tough but I'm not a quitter… It's unfortunate… got to keep pushing.”pic.twitter.com/45OwHZCDIz
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 26, 2024
Despite the challenges, Embiid’s determination and positive mindset continue to inspire. As the Sixers face the New York Knicks in the playoffs, he remains focused on contributing to his team’s success.
