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Heat's Jimmy Butler on Joel Embiid's Orbital Injury: 'I Feel Bad for My Guy'
April 30, 2022
Jimmy Butler's exit from Philadelphia was acrimonious, but he still has love for former teammate Joel Embiid.
The Heat guard said he hopes Embiid is able to return during Miami's second-round series against the Sixers after the MVP candidate suffered a concussion and fractured orbital bone in his left eye.
"I feel bad for my guy. ... I think I speak for everybody that's a part of this team, we want Jo to play. We want to go up against them at full strength and prove that we can hang with anybody and we can beat anybody," Butler told reporters Saturday.
Embiid does not have a timetable for his return. John Clark of NBC Sports Philly reported Saturday that surgery is not necessary, and there is still some hope Embiid is on the floor at some point in Round 2.
Butler and Embiid played together during the 2018-19 season. While Butler has been largely critical of his brief time in Philly, he's consistently praised Embiid as one of the few positives from his tenure.
Embiid has likewise maintained a friendly relationship with Butler despite his departure.
The Sixers and Heat are both banged up heading into Monday's Game 1. Butler is dealing with a lingering knee injury, Kyle Lowry has a hamstring injury and Tyler Herro missed practice Friday with a non-COVID illness.