Joel Embiid is out to change the narrative this season. 

After playing only 18 games last season, Embiid made his return to the court for the first time following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in a 126-110 preseason victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Xfinity Mobile Arena. In a strong showing, scoring 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field in 19 minutes, Embiid addressed the low ranking among the NBA’s best players.

“I see all these guys,” Embiid said. “I’m here to help out. According to a lot of your peers [in the media], I’m not even a top-100 basketball player in this league. So, I guess I just gotta fit in and see where I can help the team win.

Following last season, Embiid is focused on turning the page and getting back to being one of the most dominant players in the game.

“I don’t want to really think about the past,” Embiid told reporters. “I’m just in a good space mentally, physically. … I’m just happy to touch the basketball and be able to play basketball and do what I love.

“When you don’t get (to do) that, it’s tough, but that’s what I’m most happy about. So today, tonight, that’s all I kept thinking about. I’m on the court playing basketball, doing some good things, helping us win and yeah, that’s really what I was focused on.”

Nick Nurse was impressed with what he saw from his star as the team looks to return to the playoffs after going 24-58 in a season that quickly turned disastrous.

“I thought he moved good, played good, shot it good, passed it good,” Nurse said. “ I didn’t see too many negatives out there.”

Following the game, Sixers head Nick Nurse said he was pleased with Embiid’s performance. 

“I thought he moved good, played good, shot it good, passed it good,” Nurse said. “ I didn’t see too many negatives out there.”