Doctors are pleased with how Joel Embiid is progressing in his recovery from a fractured orbital bone in his left eye, but he likely won't be cleared in time to play in Game 1 of the Sixers' opening playoff series.
Embiid, who suffered the injury March 29 (AEDT) when he and Markelle Fultz collided, was fitted for a protective facemask and was practising at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia Thursday (AEDT).
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"I just got to take it day-by-day," Embiid told reporters. "Obviously I want to play, but right now I feel like I'm not ready yet ... with the way it's been progressing, hopefully I'll be back soon. Unlikely [that I'll be back for Game 1], but there's still a chance.
"Just based on the way I've been feeling the past couple days and how well I've progressed, unlikely. But we're going to see how it feels."
According to the team, there is still no timetable for his return and he has yet to be officially removed from the concussion protocol.
"I think everybody knows me, and everybody knows that I love playing," he said. "If it was my decision, I would probably play. Actually, I wouldn't say that because I don't think I'm ready to play, because it still doesn't feel all the way right.
"Like I said, it's unlikely, but you never know what can happen, maybe one of these days I'm going to wake up and it's all going to be gone. But we just got to see how it feels day-by-day."
Embiid says he's not experiencing any complications with his vision as a result of his orbital fracture. #Sixers .
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) April 11, 2018
Embiid made his first All-Star team this season and leads the 76ers in points (23.2) and rebounds (11.1) per game.