Sixers

Add Bell’s Palsy to the Growing List of Medical Conditions You Have to Learn to be a Sixers Fan

By Kyle Pagan

Published: Apr 25th, 2024 · 11:25 PM EDT

---

Joel Embiid just scored 50 points on one leg and a slightly paralyzed face:

ESPN Sources: Sixers star Joel Embiid has been treated for a mild case of Bell’s Palsey for the past week. The condition began during the play-in victory over Miami but he has wanted to keep it private to avoid distractions for his team.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 26, 2024

You need a god damn medical license to be a Sixers fan. Can we just have normal injuries for once? Bell’s Palsy, thoracic outlet syndrome, gastroenteritis, displaced flaps, and I’m sure I missed some.

Here’s Embiid talking about it after Game 3:

Joel Embiid said he was dealing with migraines before the play-in game as a result of Bell’s palsy.

“It’s been tough but I’m not a quitter…It’s not an excuse.” pic.twitter.com/NqvMvdswcU

— Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) April 26, 2024

Joel Embiid on dealing with Bell’s palsy: “I got a beautiful face, I don’t like that my mouth is moving the other way.”

— Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) April 26, 2024

Plenty of people online noticed Embiid was blinking abnormally since the Miami game so it wasn’t like this was exactly a secret:

Is Embiid sending a message in Morse code? pic.twitter.com/UjilF2Rfyd

— Kyle Pagan (@CBKylePagan) April 23, 2024

It’s crazy that Joel Embiid dropped 50 Points on the Knicks and couldn’t even blink with his left eye 🤯pic.twitter.com/TLo0TAnTND https://t.co/domlTGpaTE

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) April 26, 2024

He wasn’t made available to reporters after Game 1, wore glasses for 48 hours, didn’t look up during his entire postgame press conference after Game 2, and wouldn’t speak any French:

“I’m not taking in French” – Joel Embiid😭 pic.twitter.com/cyEJEmvSwY

— CBain (@cbain100) April 24, 2024

I don’t know if that last one is a symptom of Bell’s Palsy. Good news is it’s a mild case and curable.

Do we do a Dollar Dog event in the Sixers lots on Sunday with all donations going to Bell’s Palsy research? Might have too.

P.S. I love Woj including that Embiid wanted to keep it private in his tweet to his 6.3 million followers.