Joel Embiid has been through a lot over the past few seasons. The Philadelphia 76ers superstar recently opened up about his mindset entering this year, revealing just how uncertain things were for him physically.

"I came into this year not knowing where I was going to be, how long I was going to play, or if I was even going to play based on how the knee was the last few years," Embiid admitted. "I came in just hoping for the best."

For a player of Embiid's caliber, that level of uncertainty is striking. The MVP candidate has battled knee issues for years, and the toll was clearly weighing on him. But as the season has progressed, a remarkable shift has taken place.

"We came into the season thinking that there was not much left based on the last two years," Embiid explained. "And now I'm sitting here not even worrying about my knee."

That's a dramatic turnaround. While Embiid has dealt with other injuries this season — including an oblique issue — the knee, which was once his biggest concern, has become a non-factor. "If it wasn't for the oblique or some of the other stuff that I had, it could have been different as far as how many games I would have played," he noted.

The big man also acknowledged that setbacks are inevitable in a grueling NBA season, especially for someone who draws as much physical attention as he does. "Even after all the stuff that's happened — people falling on me — obviously, you're going to have setbacks as you go along. But those setbacks have been so much different than they've been in the past."

For Sixers fans and basketball enthusiasts alike, this is encouraging news. A healthy and confident Embiid changes the entire landscape of the Eastern Conference. And for anyone who loves the game — or just loves seeing a superstar overcome adversity — it's a reminder that sometimes, the biggest battles are won long before you step on the court.