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.

Joel Embiid took an errant headbutt to the face, looked gassed early in his 26-minute season debut, flopped, as the big man can — though extra seconds on the floor provided a needed breather — and failed to find his shot in his return to the Philadelphia 76ers.

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,