76ers: Joel Embiid's Playing Status in 2023 NBA All-Star Game

After weeks of speculation about whether or not he would suit up and play in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is set to appear in the All-Star game once again, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

This season, Embiid was voted in for the sixth-straight year. Although he was initially voted in as a reserve, several absences from starters allowed Embiid to become one of the players promoted to the starter’s pool, representing the Eastern Conference.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Embiid was unsure about his playing status. Considering the big man’s been dealing with lingering foot soreness for the last few weeks, Embiid’s entered the last 12 games listed as questionable against Sixers opponents.

In 11 of those games, Embiid played. However, he made it clear earlier this week that he wasn’t sure if he would make it out to Utah or not since he was told he needed to rest his foot.

“I’m not sure. I’m not healthy,” Embiid said on Wednesday. “I haven’t been healthy for the last three weeks. I was just trying to get to the All-Star break without missing games and stuff. I felt like I’ve reached a point where I really need to follow the doctor’s advice. Back then, he said I should’ve been sitting for two weeks. So, I’ll just see how the next few days go, and we’ll go from there.”

On Saturday, Embiid was not in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the All-Star media sessions. While his absence raised eyebrows, making many curious about his playing status for Sunday, a report indicated that Embiid planned to be in Salt Lake City on Sunday in time for the game.

The expectation leading up to the game was that Embiid would play. While Embiid kicked around the idea of sitting out and taking a break, the six-time All-Star is cleared for action and will play on Sunday.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.