Sixers' Joel Embiid treated for Bell's palsy for the past week

We finally have the answer to our question of "what the heck is going on with Joel Embiid's eye?" thanks to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Sixers' star center has been treated for a condition known as Bell's palsy, but kept things under wraps to not create a distraction for the team.

ESPN Sources: Sixers star Joel Embiid has been treated for a mild case of Bell's Palsey for the past week. The condition began during the play-in victory over Miami but he has wanted to keep it private to avoid distractions for his team.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 26, 2024

Johns Hopkins Medicine defines the condition as "an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis." More information includes:

This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve). Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head.

Bell's palsy can strike anyone at any age. It occurs most often in pregnant women, and people who have diabetes, influenza, a cold, or another upper respiratory ailment. Bell's palsy affects men and woman equally. It is less common before age 15 or after age 60.

Bell's palsy is not considered permanent, but in rare cases, it does not disappear. Currently, there is no known cure for Bell's palsy; however, recovery usually begins 2 weeks to 6 months from the onset of the symptoms. Most people with Bell's palsy recover full facial strength and expression.

Despite some visual symptoms such as being unable to blink his left eye and drooping of the left side of his mouth, Embiid appears to be battling through it. He dropped a playoff-career high 50 points in Thursday night's Game 3 victory over the New York Knicks.

That's that lingering question answered, and we wish the big guy a full recovery.

Joel Embiid said he was experiencing migraines a couple days before the Play-In game and was diagnosed with Bell's palsy: "It's been tough, but I'm not a quitter."

— Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) April 26, 2024

Prior to the above update, this article was titled "What the heck is going on with Joel Embiid's face?" and these were our updates as the situation progressed.

UPDATE, April 25, 2024, before/during Game 3:

Maybe we should change the headline to "What the heck is going on with Joel Embiid's face?" because it appears as though the entire left half of his face may be affected.

RE: Joel Embiid's eye issue (that's my beat now)

The issue may not be just affecting his eye. It appears the left side of his mouth seems a bit drooped as well.

Obviously doesn't affect the ability to play ball as much as the eye, but just wanted to note it. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/E09KmFOsQt

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) April 26, 2024

And, just for clarity, the eye was also still not blinking in Game 3.

All this being said, it didn't seem to matter much. One eye or not, Embiid put up a playoff career-high 50 points on Thursday and shot the absolute lights out. He finished 13-for-19 from the field, 5-for-7 on triples and 19-for-21 from the line.

UPDATE, April 25, 2024:

Upon further research through previous game footage, it looks like Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid may have been dealing with the eye issue as early as the Play-In Tournament game versus the Miami Heat on April 17.

Went back to see how long #Sixers Joel Embiid's eye may have been affecting him

4/12 Magic: No issue

4/17 Heat (Play-In): Subtle lopsided blinking

4/20 Knicks (G1): Left eye not blinking

4/22 Knicks (G2): G1 + sunglasses, head down

Only noticeable contact to eye was during G1. pic.twitter.com/fEe3MJ40ay

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) April 24, 2024

UPDATE, April 24, 2024:

Looking at more angles from Game 1 broadcasts as they become available, an instance has been found of Philadelphia 76ers' center Joel Embiid being seemingly unable to blink his left eye BEFORE being hit by Kelly Oubre Jr. at 7:07.

That being said, prior to that point, it didn't seem to be bothering Embiid as much — he began rubbing it more consistently and noticeably after the hit, as well as beginning to wear the sunglasses indoors after Game 1, not before.

Could we be looking at two separate issues, or one existing issue that was exacerbated by the contact from Oubre?

More on Joel Embiid's eye.

Found angle that shows lopsided blink at Q1 10:03, BEFORE the Oubre hit.

However, Embiid does not seem to be rubbing as much/be as bothered as he is AFTER the Oubre clip. Again, he didn't wear the sunglasses until after G1.

Multiple eye issues? https://t.co/gYh2TmxUy1 pic.twitter.com/oxl3tbg9nd

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) April 24, 2024

April 23, 2024:

If you watched Game 2 or even just parts of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, you may have a lingering question about Sixers' star center Joel Embiid.

What is going on with his eyes?

Even during the shock of Embiid hitting the ground grabbing his knee during his injury scare in Game 1, this was all many could notice. With his back on the floor and camera stuck on his face, the NBA's reigning MVP appeared to be only blinking with his right eye.

So, what is going on? We might have just figured out a piece of the puzzle here at Liberty Ballers.

The video below is from the first period of Game 1. Prior to these moments, I was unable to find any instance of Embiid having any issues with his eye.

Joel Embiid has been seen struggling with his left eye since Game 1. I think I may have found why.

The problems seem to have started when Kelly Oubre Jr. appeared to make contact with Embiid's face going up for a rebound in Q1 of Game 1. Video breakdown below. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/FyekSbu3yU

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) April 23, 2024

With 7:11 left in the first, New York's Donte DiVincenzo takes a shot from beyond the arc. Embiid is boxing out Josh Hart under the rim waiting for the rebound. Kelly Oubre Jr. flies straight towards the bucket and, while leaping with his right arm extended out trying to grab the ball, appears to make contact with Embiid's face with his left hand at the 7:07 mark. Embiid immediately grabs at his face.

Embiid is out of camera shot for a little after that as the Sixers' called a timeout and the broadcast went to commercial. During a following Knicks' drive around 6:33, Embiid is seen trying to battle Isaiah Hartenstein for a rebound. After Hartenstein grabs it and goes up for a dunk, Embiid is seen grabbing his face and covering his left eye again as he slowly heads up the floor. It does not appear that any further contact was made to his face on this play, but its clear something is wrong at this point.

Finally, at the end of the first period, he went straight back into the tunnel holding his face. He returned to the floor in the second, but the eye questionability, let's say, has been visible ever since.

The more time Embiid is on camera, the more people are noticing. Many have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to post moments of Embiid appearing to be unable to blink or properly move the left eye in sync with his right eye throughout Game 1 and Game 2.

His behavior between games hasn't done much to assuage suspicions and questions over whether his eye is injured. The big man was wearing sunglasses inside Madison Square Garden at shootaround prior to Game 2 on Monday.

After the Sixers' Game 2 loss, he appeared to be hiding his eyes by holding his head down for the entirety of his postgame media availability.

And just to be clear, he was not wearing the sunglasses when arriving at MSG prior to Game 1.

Does this confirm that Game 1 is when he may have hurt his eye? No, but it certainly points to it as the inception of the problem.

At this point, the Sixers have not mentioned the issue or listed it on any injury report. As always, we will bring you more concrete information when — and if — it becomes available.

Embiid and the Sixers are off Tuesday and Wednesday before returning to South Philadelphia to host Game 3 on Thursday evening.