It took an extra three weeks, but Joel Embiid's regular season finally is underway. The superstar center made his season debut Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center against the New York Knicks after missing the first nine games due to left knee injury management and then a three-game suspension for shoving a media member.

Joel Embiid's 2024-25 season got off to a disastrous start off of the floor. What was supposed to be a season focused on health and making it to the playoffs in peak condition began with a preseason knee injury and an altercation with a local reporter that led to a three-game suspension.

Not only was this a playoff rematch from April, but it was also the NBA Cup opener and the return of Joel Embiid who made his season debut. Embiid didn't have a normal dominant night for Philadelphia as he had 13 points,