“I’m Alive & Here”: 5 Years Before Joel Embiid, Ex-Pacers Star Gave Detailed Account Of Suffering From Bell’s Palsy

A recent revelation was made on the health condition of Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid. According to renowned NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, the player has been diagnosed with a “mild case” of Bell’s Palsy, a condition that reportedly weakens the muscle tissue on one side of the face. Speculation amongst fans first started to arise after the player played his recent playoff games with a twitch in his left eye. With the news now going public, long-time NBA fans were reminded of another NBA star who suffered from the same ailment.

Responding to Wojnarowski’s breaking news on X, ‘The Athletic’ reporter Scott Agness highlighted that he covered a story 4-5 years ago about how former Indiana Pacers’ Naz Mitrou-Long developed Bell’s Palsy during his time in the NBA. The article carried statements from various individuals in Mitrou-Long’s life, including from his teammate JaKarr Sampson. According to Sampson, the ailment was fresh in his mind since it was the same one that once affected his elder brother.

“He went to sleep, woke up, and had it on Thanksgiving day,” Sampson said, about his brother. “He was like, ‘Bro, I can’t move the left side of my face.’ I took him to the emergency room because in some cases it could be a symptom of a stroke”.

According to Scott Agness, Mitrou-Long had a tedious journey in handling Bell’s Palsy given his unfamiliarity with the disease and how it affects an individual. From dealing with headaches to using eyedrops to treat the “super dry” eyeball on the weak side of his face, the then-NBA player had to deal with a lot. He did not find the experience pleasant at all and stated how it “affects everything”, even everyday movements. Basic things like consuming food, water and even brushing teeth became a struggle.

He then said, “I’m alive and here in the locker room right now and things could be a lot worse.” Fortunately for Mitrou-Long, he had people around him who gradually educated him on the best way to go about your day with one-half of your face’s muscles being weaker than the other. Along with Sampson’s brother, he also conversed with a G League official’s wife (who was also diagnosed) and a few friends of then-Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke. In the end, the player recovered and managed to get back into the groove of things.

Joel Embiid said he’s “not a quitter” after Bell’s Palsy Diagnosis

As news of Embiid’s condition became official, a response from the player himself was highly awaited. The same occurred in the aftermath of the recent 76ers-Knicks playoff clash, during which he dropped an impressive 50 points. The 7x NBA All-Star revealed that he first started to feel the symptoms after the Miami Heat game. After the migraines he developed caused him to consult a doctor, the situation was unveiled.

“It’s pretty annoying, with the left side of my face, my mouth, and my eye,” said Embiid.“It’s been tough but I’m not a quitter… It’s unfortunate… got to keep pushing”.

Joel Embiid has been a key factor in the 76ers success this season. With the franchise currently possessing a 1-2 record against their playoff rivals, the New York Knicks, his presence is more needed now than before. However, if his infection causes him to miss out on the remainder of the games, then fans will hope that the player will recover before the commencement of the 2024 Paris Olympics.