Joel Embiid Makes Big Announcement On Return To Sixers

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Newly crowned Most Valuable Player of the NBA Joel Embiid will return to the Sixers for game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics.

"I'm back," Embiid told a crowd of teammates who watched the MVP announcement with him Tuesday night, according to Shams Charania with The Athletic.

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Embiid missed game four of the opening round and game one of the Celtics series with an LCL strain in his knee. It was deja vu for one of the league's best players for six years now, as Embiid has faced a wide variety of injuries, ranging from a facial fracture that required him to wear a Phantom of the Opera-like mask to other knee injuries, in three consecutive postseasons.

Embiid's return puts the Sixers in a powerful position for the remainder of the series with the Celtics. They took a 1-0 lead without him on Monday night. defying expectations that Philly couldn't handle Boston without their MVP. As recently as Tuesday afternoon Embiid was still listed as "doubtful" for game two, with head coach Doc Rivers telling reporters that there had been no change in his condition and that the team was likely to err on the side of the caution.

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Tipoff for game two is at 8 p.m. in Boston Wednesday night.