FEBRUARY 6: The Sixers announced today that Embiid underwent a procedure on the lateral meniscus in his left knee on Tuesday and will be reevaluated in approximately four weeks (Twitter link via Wojnarowski).
As we relayed on Monday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that an absence of one or two months is viewed as a best-case scenario for Embiid.
FEBRUARY 4: Sixers superstar and reigning Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid will undergo a corrective procedure this week to repair a left meniscus injury and is expected to miss an extended period of time, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
A timetable is expected to be established after the surgical procedure. Embiid was diagnosed this weekend with a displaced flap — a tear — of his left meniscus.
At minimum, an extended absence by Embiid will likely impact the Sixers’ seeding for the playoffs. It could derail the Sixers’ season if Embiid cannot come back and play effectively by the postseason.
His injury could also play a major role in the front office’s approach to the trade deadline, which looms on Thursday afternoon.
Embiid will be ineligible for any postseason awards under the new 65-game rule to qualify for individual honors.
Embiid was considered the frontrunner for the MVP award again in 2023/24, with superlative statistics across the board: a league-high 35.3 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.1 SPG and 1.8 BPG on .533/.366/.883 shooting in 34 games (34.0 MPG).
The 76ers are 30-18, but they’re 26-8 when Embiid plays and just 4-10 without him. They have lost five of their last six games, with the only exception occurring on Thursday when Tyrese Maxey erupted for 51 points against Utah.
Paul Reed has been starting in Embiid’s absence with Mohamed Bamba backing him up. Coach Nick Nurse has also used a number of smaller lineups.
Embiid suffered the injury during a Tuesday matchup between the Warriors and Sixers, when Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga fell on his leg. The incident took place in the fourth quarter and Embiid left the court under his own power.
The seven-time All-Star missed three games early last month due to knee soreness before sitting out matchups against the Nuggets and Trail Blazers on Saturday and Monday, respectively, due to the same issue.
Embiid, 29, is under contract through at least 2026, with a player option for 2026/27.
Done for the year, probably miss the Olympics. Take note of Rob Williams, you don’t want that.
I had the same procedure done on both knees, obviously his could be worse. But they send you out of the hospital walking now and you’re running in a week. He’s probably out 4 to 6 weeks.
And then out of the playoffs 4-6 weeks after he comes back.
That’s the reference to Rob Williams.
Really dumb comment. Embiid has played thru numerous injuries in the playoffs including torn ligaments in his thumb. Fractured orbital bone cheek. Oh I forgot his acl sprain. Another Embiid hater.
Yeah OK, play him then. Not my most valuable asset, im not paying him going forward. I didnt have anything to do with hurting him either. Top 5 player in the league, you don’t want to F his career up is all I’m saying. Philly aren’t getting through the east with Embiid anyways.hes not just top5 or phillies best player, he’s also best trade chip. You really want to mess that up?
29 is old in the NBA, you want to play your best years. Let’s be real Embid probably doesn’t have a long career in the NBA, he’s a superstar today, but he’s probably out or ineffective at 34.
Philly should have just been honest with their fans. The real purpose was not to win a title, but rather to do everything possible to allow him to win another MVP trophy.
Perhaps a player with the injury history of Embiid should not be logging minutes and usage that leads to 35 points, 11 boards and 6 dimes a night. Philly and Embiid got exactly what they deserved. They took on the risk to get him stats, and now, as usual, Embiid is out injured.
Pacers got Tyrese Haliburton playing 22 minutes a night. He ain’t happy about it ….. but …….
Embiid has sat out more 4th quarters then any player in the league so your chasing stats and mvps are crap. Embiid plays when he feels he can go like ALL nba players.
Embiid should not have been playing that night though. It was so clear watching him he wasn’t 100%. Not being 100% is the single biggest cause of another injury.
I genuinely don’t understand why the team allowed him to play to be honest. It’s so stupidly shortsighted. Which is an issue with this franchise if you ask me. Has been for years. I would find it really frustrating if I was a 76ers fan but I’m not. So instead it’s just puzzling for me.
I think Embiid is awesome and it sucks that Philly doesn’t build a competent enough team around him that he can stay healthy for the playoffs. They did it once and that team ran into a healthy Kawhi Leonard. Every team since that year have been worse.
That is just not true.
The 76ers knew last week what the injury was and how long he is expected to be out. I was looking at box scores during the Jazz game, and it listed injuries and expected return dates, Joel”s was listed as March 14th. This was 2 days before they even addressed what his injury was.
Didn’t realize Rob Williams was representing a country at the olympics…
if it’s a trim and not a suture, he has shot at being back for the playoffs
They need to get him healthy if not it’s going to get worse. He turns 30 next month. If he doesn’t get his body right he could be done in 3-4 years.
33-34 is a long career, this is a young man’s league.
Exactly. Which is why they gotta get his health straight now.
I suppose somehow the injury is his fault! He had some maturity issues early in his career, but I think finally made a commitment to this Coach and his teammates this year. He came into this season in great shape and was dominating up until this injury. Haters gonna hate!!! Don’t believe everything Howard Eakins fills your head with Philly! He’s no genius!
Bummer!
Good, the wait and see option has been done and failed before.
Furkan, House, and Bamba, FRP, 2 SRP for Bridges and Richards.
RoCo, Springer, and KMJ, FRP, FRP Swap, and SRP for Dejounte Murray.
Richards-Bball-Morris
Bridges-Batum
Tobias-Oubre
Maxey-Melton
Murray-Bev
Grab some bodies off the street… Meyers Leonard, Derrick Favors, Bazely, TJ Warren, Jeremy Lamb, John Wall, don’t care Boogie even run some 10 Day contracts. Top-10 would be stout enough to withstand the Embiid absence.
Then see who comes open in the buyout if anyone.
There not getting Bridges or Murray for anything close to that…
Both teams are hanging up if those are the offers
Exactly. Bridges is not going anywhere.
Miles Bridges is a UFA ad seasons end, I’m pretty sure CHA would deal him for a 1st & expiring contracts. They probably don’t win 20 games with him, so why not tank and lose more games , CHA could move to the 2nd/3rd most ping pong balls
If the Suns are somehow in the running for Bridges, with no FRPs, pretty sure the Sixers offering up 1 trumps their garbage SRPs.
Lol wrong Bridges. Suns are in on Miles Bridges from Charlotte. Very different trade value between the two.
I’m talking about Miles Bridges, hence he would be coming along with Nick Richards… from Charlotte.
Uh oh!
Not a Sixers fan, but I like watching the best on the court every night, so him being done possibly for the season is too bad.
Embiid and possibly Randle out who gets the call up for all star honours?
A, Kristaps.
B, Trae
C, Barnes
D, D.White.
Trae will be one for sure
One of the answers is E. Jarrett Allen
Yeah I’m guessing Allen and Barnes
No real information on the type of surgery. Cutting or Sewing? The first type would generally have a projected recovery time that would allow him to return this year. The second generally doesn’t.
Joel is a warrior back in 4-6 weeks.
LOL. A warrior owns his results. This guy won’t even rent them.
Like I said back in 4 to 6 weeks. Never question the heart of the world’s best player.
Joel is a 76er…get your eyesight checked bud. Unless they’re trading Curry I don’t see that happening.
Bud ? OK Chaz.
warrior not Warrior. It wasn’t capitalized for a reason.
If he was to be out for rest of season he would qualify for personal awards, think about that too
If he’s out for the year he wouldn’t make any All-NBA team. 34 games isn’t nearly enough. I don’t care if you beat Wilts record in those 34 games it’s not enough.
Haven’t been paying a ton of attention lately, did Joel sitting out have anything to do with Philly getting popped by the league for sitting players?
Has the super talented center ever seen a conference finals series? Finals?
Big men and leg/knee surgeries are never a good thing too. I believe their window has closed. He needs to join a real organization.
I’m guessing The City of Brotherly Love won’t be to kind to Kuminga tomorrow night.
Embiid is one of only 3 players worth watching. Unlike others I’m willing to admit it’s my opinion , not a fact. He played through a few nhl type injuries 3 years ago while a certain teammate sat out 13 weeks with a sprain. He has a big heart, a SHTTON of talent, and a Mr Glass body, but will play through a lot.