Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (Image source Getty Images)
In a recent episode of the show ‘First Take’, a well-known NBA analyst, Stephen A. Smith, expressed his opinion about Joel Embiid, the star player of the Philadelphia 76ers. Smith stated that if Embiid were to remain healthy, he would go down in history as one of the greatest big men to have ever played the game of basketball.

“This dude is one of the greatest big men to ever play the game of basketball. And if he [Joel Embiid] were healthy … there would be a religious conversation, is this not the greatest big man we have ever seen in the history of basketball? The arsenal that this brother has, it’s a crying shame that this dude is not healthy.” Stephen A. Smith said during the recent episode of ‘First Take.’

Joel Embiid is dealing with a nerve disorder

Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers star player, has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a type of facial paralysis that he claims has bothered him since before the play-in round. According to Smith, before an injury halted his season, Embiid was on track to win MVP for the second time.

After scoring 50 points in the Sixers’ Game 3 victory against the New York Knicks, Embiid wore sunglasses to the platform and claimed that he had fought with a lot of symptoms, including dry eyes.

Embiid is dealing with a nerve disorder that affects one side of his facial nerve. This condition causes a range of symptoms such as loss of sensation to the affected side of the face and tongue, drooling of saliva, drying of eyes, and an inability to close the affected side of the eye.

Embiid is currently experiencing a significant problem, but with adequate treatment, he can return to playing basketball. As the frontrunner for the 76ers basketball club, Embiid has established himself as one of the most influential players in the league. However, he still has a long way to go before he can compare himself to the all-time greats.