Joel Embiid has scored 63 points and 18 rebounds in two playoff games against the Knicks. And yet, something doesn’t seem quite right.
The 76ers star’s left eye is the subject of widespread speculation after the first two games of Philadelphia’s first-round series against New York.
Although there has been no official confirmation of an injury to Embiid or his team, Embiid appeared unable to blink his left eye in Game 2. He also shielded himself from cameras during his postgame interview.
Joel Embiid can’t blink with his left eye? pic.twitter.com/TxI3qlNPqH
– Talking Knicks (@TalkinKnicks) April 23, 2024
Until now, all the rumors around his eyes are speculations. And her game clearly hasn’t been affected during the first two matches.
But as the 76ers head into a crucial stretch of the series, returning to Philadelphia down 0-2 after a controversial finish Monday night, there will be increased attention on anything that could hurt the 76ers’ chances.
What’s wrong with Joel Embiid’s eye?
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Embiid has a mild case of Ball’s paralysis, which started during the Play-In series against the Heat. The team has kept it quiet to avoid distractions to the team.
Before the diagnosis, there was much speculation about a possible injury. Embiid was not listed as questionable for Game 2 of the series against the Knicks and there has been no word on a possible injury, either to the eye or elsewhere.
Liberty Ballers’ Erin Grugan found footage from Game 1 in which Embiid appeared to be shot in the eye by teammate Kelly Oubre Jr. as he spaced out to grab a rebound. Oubre jumped toward the basket with Embiid positioned underneath, and Oubre’s left arm appeared to swing toward Embiid’s eye.
Joel Embiid has been seen struggling with his left eye since Game 1. I think I’ve figured out why.
The problems appear to have started when Kelly Oubre Jr. appeared to make contact with Embiid’s face while going for a rebound in the first quarter of Game 1. Video breakdown below. #sixeros pic.twitter.com/FyekSbu3yU
—Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) April 23, 2024
Embiid immediately caught his attention. When time was up, she went to the locker room.
Dr. Brian Sutterer, sports medicine specialist who has a YouTube channel, speculated that Embiid might have some “trauma to that eye, trauma to his face” that could have caused temporary nerve damage. That could prevent signals from the brain from returning to the left eye to tell it to blink, according to Sutterer.
Embiid has suffered an eye injury in the past. In 2022, Embiid missed a couple of games against the Heat after suffered an orbital fracture against the Raptors in Game 6 of the first-round playoff series. He returned in Game 3 and ended up logging more than 33 minutes in every game he played in that series against Miami.
But Sutterer didn’t believe the orbital fracture was likely related to any eye injury Embiid might be suffering now, given that he had shown no trouble blinking before the start of this series against the Knicks.
Embiid has had no problems overcoming any eye ailment he may have. And the 76ers certainly hope that continues as they fight to stay in this series.
What is Bell’s palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles that can appear suddenly, according to Johns Hopkins. It comes from damage to the facial nerve, but is not considered permanent. Recovery can take from two weeks to six months.
It is unknown what causes nerve damage, but it is reportedly related to diabetes, high blood pressure, injury, toxins, Lyme disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, sarcoidosis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, or infection, according to Johns Hopkins.
Symptoms of Bell’s palsy include disordered muscle movements such as smiling, squinting or blinking, loss of sensation in the face, headache, tearing, drooling, loss of taste in the front two-thirds of the body. the tongue, hypersensitivity to sound in the affected person. ear or inability to close the eye on the affected side of the face.
