The last image of Joel Embiid playing with the 76ers was him gritting his way through Bell’s palsy and the aftereffects of a left knee injury. He played 40 minutes in Game 6 of the first-round matchup last season against the New York Knicks despite being clearly limited.

Joel Embiid finished with 13 points in 26 minutes as the struggling Sixers fell to the Knicks, 109-99, at the Wells Fargo Center.

Joel Embiid is expected to make his season debut for the Sixers after injuries and a suspension for shoving a reporter.