In other words, a slow ramp-up was always expected for the superstar. Especially in light of comments he made around training camp, when Embiid bluntly told reporters he did not expect to play two back-to-back games for the rest of his career. However, it seems the seven-footer may have been hasty with that declaration.

Embiid missed the first nine games of the season. He was dealing with what the team called "left knee management" and then received a three-game suspension for an altercation with a columnist in the 76ers locker room. But after Tuesday's 111-99 loss to the Knicks, Embiid opened the door to playing on Wednesday against the 12-0 Cavs.

"He is the piece. He is The Process," Paul George said of his Philly co-star, who made his season debut Tuesday.