Sixers' Joel Embiid Unsure About Playing Status at All-Star Game

Joel Embiid reacts to becoming an All-Star starter again while expressing uncertainty about his playing status.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid received some good news on Friday afternoon. . With the 2023 NBA All-Star game approaching, the Sixers have a lone representative in the center Joel Embiid. While many might’ve expected Embiid to make the big game as a starter for the sixth-straight season, the big man was left out of the starter’s pool.

Instead, the Eastern Conference’s top picks in the frontcourt were Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jayson Tatum. To no surprise after, Embiid was the first reserve named from the Eastern Conference reserve pool.

The big man claimed he wasn’t surprised.

“I was not surprised,” Embiid said after hearing he wouldn’t be a starter. “I think it’s well documented that I’m not well-liked. That’s cool. I don’t know if it’s because I troll a lot, or I guess I’m an a******, but it’s cool. I’ll keep being me, I’ll keep being an a******, and I’ll keep trolling. If people don’t like it, that’s their problem. Like I said, it all goes back to winning. When you look at how many times I was an All-Star, they aren’t gonna see he was a starter this many times. Having been a starter for the last five years, it is kind of disrespectful. I don’t think anybody else had a better year than me. Like I said, you focus on the right things, and everything is gonna go well for you.”

While Embiid was an All-Star reserve for the last couple of weeks, the Sixers’ center eventually got his nod to start. With three players slated to miss the game due to injuries in Kevin Durant, Zion Williamson, and Steph Curry, Embiid was one of three players that were elevated to the starters' pool.

After Friday’s game against the New York Knicks, Embiid wasn’t all that enthused about the news.

“It’s whatever,” Embiid said. “I don’t care.” 

Not only did Embiid seem careless about the change, but he mentioned his playing status could be up in the air when All-Star weekend rolls around.

“I’m not sure, we’re going to see how it goes,” Embiid said when asked whether or not he would play as he battles foot soreness. “I got three games. So, I’m just taking it day by day. I missed a few games because of it. It’s all about just managing it and taking it day by day. There’s a reason why I’ve been questionable every single game. So, I’m just taking it day by day.”

For the last nine games, Embiid was listed as questionable due to foot soreness. While he only missed the January 21 matchup against the Sacramento Kings during that stretch, Embiid looks forward to getting some much-needed rest during the break. Whether that break will be extended without an All-Star game or not is currently unclear.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.