CHICAGO — Joel Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champion and the 2023 Most Valuable Player, made his return to the Philadelphia 76ers’ starting lineup during their matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.

His comeback comes after appearing in just four games this season due to ongoing knee issues and a recent three-game suspension for an incident involving a sports journalist. Embiid has not played a game since November 20 and has since missed the last seven contests.

Prior to the game, the 7-foot-0 center was seen participating in pregame warmups while wearing a brace on his surgically repaired left knee, signaling his readiness to return to action.

Alongside Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey were also in the starting lineup. This All-Star combination has only had one opportunity to play together for just over six minutes during the current season.

The 76ers entered the game with a record of 6-15, having recently achieved victories in three of their last four outings, which added to the excitement surrounding Embiid’s much-anticipated return to the court.