Joel Embiid Discusses His NBA Legacy, 'I Care About How I'm Going to be Remembered'

Joel Embiid expressed concern that his NBA legacy might be defined by injuries rather than his on-court performance. Speaking to ESPN, the Philadelphia 76ers star emphasized his desire to be remembered specifically for his basketball career, stating, "I care about how I'm going to be remembered when it comes to basketball, but not as a man."

Embiid discussed the mental toll of his physical injuries, revealing he is a people-pleaser motivated by support from family, teammates, and fans. He admitted, "I have a hard time disappointing people... I like to please people." This tendency reportedly contributed to him playing through injury against the Golden State Warriors on January 30, 2024, resulting in a torn meniscus, as team sources felt external pressure influenced his decision.

Frustration exists from Embiid himself (over missing prime playing time), the organization, and fans due to his persistent unreliability. His availability is highly uncertain after playing only 58 games combined over the last two seasons due to knee problems.

While 76ers officials are reportedly optimistic about Embiid returning for the start of the 2025-26 season, questions remain about his ability to regain his MVP form. His performance last season (23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, career-low 44.4% shooting in 19 games) was below his peak, which saw him average more than one point per minute before the meniscus tear.

The article concludes that the 76ers' potential as a top Eastern Conference team next season hinges critically on Embiid's health and his ability to play at least 65 games – a threshold he has only reached twice in the past nine seasons.