Embiid completes second rehab in Qatar
Joel Embiid is back from Qatar, and, according to the 76ers, the center's second trip there was a success. Embiid spent the last two weeks at Aspetar, an orthopedic and sports medicine hospital in Doha, Qatar. This was his second time at the world-renowned facility that serves as the official sports medicine partner of French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain. His first trip was in February around the NBA all-star break.
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Joel Embiid is back from Qatar, and, according to the 76ers, the center's second trip there was a success.
Embiid spent the last two weeks at Aspetar, an orthopedic and sports medicine hospital in Doha, Qatar. This was his second time at the world-renowned facility that serves as the official sports medicine partner of French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain. His first trip was in February around the NBA all-star break.
This time, the Sixers sent a doctor, David Martin; head of strength and conditioning Todd Wright; player development assistant Chris Babcock; and player development staffer Curtis Sumpter to Qatar to work with Embiid.
"It was a little bit more comfortable" for him, Sixers coach Brett Brown said of the second trip. "It's a little more familiar. The resources that they have there, and we help cultivate, sending over some of our own staff, I think just made it an easier second trip from a familiarity aspect."
The 7-foot-2 post player is scheduled to make his NBA debut in the 2016-17 season after being sidelined the last two seasons following surgeries to his right foot. The Sixers selected Embiid third overall in the 2014 draft.
He had bone-graft surgery to repair the navicular bone in his right foot in August. The former Kansas standout already had missed what would have been his rookie season after undergoing surgery in June 2014 to repair a stress fracture in the same bone. A setback in his recovery led to the second operation.
Brown said Embiid worked on a "smorgasbord" of things at Aspetar.
"From diet assessment, really planning and talking about food in his diets, number of meals, and portion sizes and digging into that, educating him on that," the coach said.
He was also educated on things to do with his foot in regard to bone density, massage therapy, proper sleep habits, and his sleep pattern. And he also worked out with the Sixers staff members on hand.
But why did they have to go all the way to Qatar? Some might argue they could have done the same things in North Jersey or someplace else close by if they didn't want to remain in Philadelphia.
"I don't think that's true," Brown said. "The people that know sort of this setup would agree probably more with us that it's extremely private. It's extremely isolated. It allows him to not be distracted by almost anything. He's in the Middle East and is in a community of fellow athletes sharing ideas and sharing stories."
Brown added that there's a foreign aspect that interested the Sixers in that he can speak French with other athletes.
"It is so naïve to think he can do what you can do in North Jersey," the coach said.
Injury update
Nerlens Noel (bruised right knee) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Wells Fargo Center. The center had missed the last six games with the injury.
"If I had to guess, I would guess no," Brown said. "But that would just be a guess. We will judge it more tomorrow."
Noel participated in Monday's light practice and did some one-on-one work with Christian Wood afterward. The 6-11, 225-pounder said he felt good.
"I think leading up to tomorrow, if things continue to feel good, I will be playing," Noel said.
Richaun Holmes (strained right Achilles) will miss his fourth straight game. Jahlil Okafor (torn right meniscus surgery) could resume on-court activities in May.
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