Philadelphia 76ers’ superstar center, Joel Embiid, expressed his determination to return to action this NBA season, despite suffering a left knee injury last month. The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player was sidelined after Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga fell on his left leg during a game scramble.

Embiid, who was leading the league in scoring at the time of his injury, averaged an impressive 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game for the Sixers before undergoing surgery in early February. Despite the setback, Embiid remains focused on getting back on the court and continuing his stellar performance.

“That’s the plan,” Embiid stated after a recent 76ers practice session. “Obviously everything has to go right, as far as getting healthy and being as close as I’m supposed to be, but yeah, that’s the plan.”

While there is no specific timeline for his return, Embiid emphasized the importance of listening to his body during the recovery process. “There’s really no timeline. You can never tell how the body reacts, especially once you start ramping up. It all depends on how I feel,” he explained. “If it doesn’t feel like it’s right, then you’ve got to keep going.”

Despite the 76ers’ recent struggles, with seven losses in their last 10 games, Embiid’s decision to return to play is not contingent on the team’s playoff position. “It doesn’t matter where we are. I just want to play as much as I can and try to help us,” he stated. “I want to be on the floor as much as possible. I only have about 20 years to do this, so any chances that I get, I want to be on the floor.”