Sixers GM: Joel Embiid 'was playing magnificently' before second foot surgery

By foxsports
Published

The fact that Joel Embiid is expected to miss a second consecutive NBA season after undergoing a second surgery to repair his injured right foot is a bummer for Sixers fans, for multiple reasons.

It obviously delays the team's extended rebuilding process, which means a whole lot more losing to endure before things begin to turn around. But it also means waiting to see what Embiid can do in live game action, and trying to figure out just how good he may one day become.

Sixers GM Sam Hinkie told reporters recently (via Rich Hofmann of the Philly Voice) that by all accounts, Embiid looked amazing before the need for the additional surgery was discovered.

"In the conference call, he said that the 7-footer was playing magnificently before the injury. 

"In another interview with Comcast SportsNet, Hinkie said, “For about 45 days, he didn’t play in any gym in which my phone didn’t blow up. If he played anywhere, people would just start texting me like, ‘You won’t believe what this guy is doing. You won’t believe how well this guy is playing, nobody can hold this guy.”

That last part should have Sixers fans feeling optimistic about the future, even if it's been once again delayed for an additional season.

(h/t: Philly Voice)