7:28 pm: Embiid’s appendectomy was successful, the Sixers announced (Twitter link).
2:34 pm: After initially ruling out Joel Embiid for Thursday’s game against the Rockets due to an illness, the Sixers have provided an update on the star center’s status, announcing (via Twitter) that Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday in Houston.
The 76ers didn’t provide a timeline for Embiid’s recovery, stating that more updates will be shared as appropriate. But an appendectomy isn’t the type of procedure a player returns from in a matter of days.
Nikola Mirotic (in 2016) and Matthew Dellavedova (2021) are among the NBA players who have had in-season appendectomies in recent years. Both players were sidelined for between five and six weeks.
Trey Lyles underwent the same procedure in mid-July 2020 when he was a member of the Spurs and wasn’t able to play before the end of San Antonio’s season on August 13. OG Anunoby is another player who underwent an appendectomy that ended his season, though Anunoby, who had his procedure on April 12, 2019, probably could’ve suited up later in the Raptors’ championship run that year if they’d needed him.
The upshot is that Embiid’s regular season is certainly over and – barring a very rapid recovery – he likely won’t be available for any play-in or first-round playoff games, so Philadelphia will have to try to extend its season without one of its top players in order to give him a chance to return this spring.
It’s a disappointing turn of events for a team that has looked dangerous when its best players – Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George – are all available. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened as often as the Sixers have hoped. Embiid has been limited to 38 appearances due to various health issues, while George, who has battled some injuries and served a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s drug policy, has played 34 games.
The Sixers currently rank eighth in the East with a 43-36 record. They’re within a game-and-a-half of the No. 5 Hawks but only have a half-game lead on the No. 9 Hornets. They have a tough game in Houston on Thursday before finishing their season with more favorable matchups in Indiana (Friday) and vs. Milwaukee (Sunday).
As for Embiid, the 32-year-old has averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 31.6 minutes per game this season, with a .489/.333/.854 shooting line. He’ll earn guaranteed salaries of $59.5MM in 2026/27 and $64.3MM in ’27/28, with a $69.1MM player option for ’28/29.
Of course he has something wrong. You can’t make this up. The process is over.
Jesus ****ing Christ
If it wasn’t this it would have been something else. Not sure how this is shocking to anyone.
Out for playoffs. I’ll never understand why Morey resigned him for 5 yrs. I can’t understand why Morey still has a job. Amazing how dumb some of these billionaire owners are about sports.
Morey deserves a lot of criticism, and the knee issues were obvious, but I would love to know how anyone can predict appendicitis years out.
Some people are prisoners of the moment and lack any historical perspective despite allegedly watching the sport for 30 years.
He should of signed him for three. With PO on third. A d PG for 5 yrs. Appendicitis not even thinking about that. But he is bad luck when it comes to injuries. Owners should learn not to give out max contracts without restrictions imo. Especially 5 yrs.
That is not related to an issue with appendicitis. This isn’t some injury it’s just bad luck health wise. If he got hit by a car in the practice facility parking lot it would be incredibly stupid to go “See! This is why Morey was wrong extending him!”
Im not talking about his ill ess. He shouldn’t be gere st all. Bad lucj just keeps coming.
Stop drinking before you post the keyboard gets blurry
IPhone prints what it wants. I don’t drink. Phatt fingers. Why do you GAF. You bored. You don’t want me on your DA.
Only Joel could get hit by a car in the Camden facility parking lot… practically impossible – for anyone else.
Embiid signed a new 5-year contract with PHI?
…Or was it a 3-year Extension?
I’ll wait for my favorite punching bag who has never been wrong a day in his life LOL
(Nevermind that a Player Option gives even MORE control to Embiid than three guaranteed years – you continue to demonstrate you have no idea how these things work).
@Knick
You really think some other teams wouldn’t be desist enough to take the risk? Most of these guys are insured. Teams need to sirens the money on sometime so it’s not like he couldn’t get 5 years elsewhere. If they let him walk then how do they replace him? It’s not that easy.
Dude the Sixers gad a contender 5 yrs agi. They added Maxey and everything fell apart. Morey sucks. Why you tive this guy a 5 yr deal. Then gives PG a 5 yr deal. He isn’t here to soend money. You canvdo that. Ges tgereto build a tean. He took a contender and destroyed it.
why do you give a point guard a 5 year deal? Is that a serious question? You can debate, if you choose, whether they should’ve drafted Maxey (as opposed to who) but asking “why give him a 5 year deal”?) is bedbugs he deserved it and the m market dictates they you do? You act like more than half the team’s in the nba wouldn’t to post themselves to give a 5 year deal to a guy that has averaged 25+/6+/3+ in 46/37/88 the last 3 years.
You make no sense. Nobody cares about you talking to yourself. Maxey has nothing to do with what I am saying. Thank God you don’t run a team. You’d be worse than Morey And Dixers would be worse.
The Sixers are a mess. I guess you are fine with that.
If it wasn’t for Bad Luck. Sixers wouldn’t have any luck with this guy.
link to yardbarker.com
Embid is pretty much done. Over the next 3 years can you expect him to play in more than 35 games a year at this point.
Just a terrible signing imo. They should of let him walk. Sixers were a contender just a few yrs back. Now it’s looking like a full rebuild lol.
There are plenty of reasons to be critical or Morey, but this is not one of them. This is an organizational thing, and they’re all in on Embiid. I doubt that fact has changed much, honestly.
The reality is they’re the 8th seed and were not getting out of a first round playoff series with or without Embiid.
He was never worth that contract. This is all Morey. Did the same in Houston. If he had any real brains. He would of gave him a three yr deal. Or trade himz then you sign PG 5 yrs. Incompetent
He did in fact give Embiid a 3-year deal. Sorry this is taking you for such a loop old-timer.
Paul George got FOUR years, which was the maximum the Sixers could offer. For someone pointing the finger at others and calling THEM incompetent….
KnickerbockerAl, the authority on real brains
You act like this is the mlb where you can result go out and sign top talent. These guys have options. If they don’t offer him 5 years then you dint think some other team would? And try signing Maxey, coming off a breakthrough season of 26/6/3 on 45/37/87 shooting to a 3 year deal instead of a 5 year max, which is what most start players coming off their rookie contracts sign. Factor in that he took the reigns as the teams best player that year as he kept them afloat with 47 and despite Embiid missing 40+ games with Tobias and Oubre being the next two best players. You can question Morey about a few things but giving Maxey a max 5 isn’t one of them. It’s rather silly of you imo. Because of the salary cap, limited 2 round draft and other restraints i would suggest that the nba is one of the toughest sports to acquire high end talent and when your able to draft them you usually try and retain them.
Why do you care about Sixers lol. I’m talking about Morey and his history of bad decisions going back to Yao, Harden and CP3, Russ. I don’t GAF about their money. Signing Embiid and PG are the dumbest moves. On a list of dumb moves.
You think you can explain dumb moves. What you the dumb move expert. Nobody was offering PG a contract. He bided against himself. He could of signed three players for that money. Nobody was going to offer Embiid a contract. And if they did. Tge BYE good riddance. He still had two yrs left. You ain’t schooling anyone here. Go read about all of Moreys dumb moves. You’re only talking to yourself.
You know what? My bad. For some reason when you said PG my dumb a$$ thought point guard. forgive my temporary dumbness.
First off it was only a three year extension. Second of all you don’t not extend your franchise player a season removed from winning MVP.
Oh it was three. Then it was with two yrs still left. PG is 5 yrs. 110 mill a yr fir two players that don’t play.
PG was 4 years. Reading and retaining information is not your forte, Real Brains.
@KnickAl
The 76ers should be able to get out of the 1st rd without him.
I don’t think so. As 8th seed they got Pistons. As a full healthy team. They could win. They would a tough out for anyone. But you can’t trust them.
It’s always something!!
Dang. Get well soon big guy!!
Ok so one oblique injury in basketball of all sports turns into surgery to remove the appendix and out for playoffs
It never ends….
Why are some people trashing him for needing a real surgery? This wasn’t planned out just for him to miss the playoffs.
He has missed more games in his career than he has played. Who cares what the injury is – it just adds to the total of unavailable games he has in his career.
Appendicitis isn’t an injury bro
How about this – who cares what the reason is for why Joel is missing a game – which he does every season with astounding regularity.
Bottom line – you can not count on him when it counts.
Would you like to apply this same argument to Nikola Topic?
Grow up and get your facts straight lil joe
I forgot he was still in the league.
Does this affect his salary. The Sixers I am a deep hole with this one. I see no way to win in this situation.
“Let me see if you got some hoe in you, yea cuz I don’t hear no dog in you, see that might be the issue, it’s like idk you could be full of hoe, we’re going to run some X-rays, cuz you might literally be a b*tch”
What will Philly do in the playoffs without Embiids two points and six turnovers in the fourth.
OG wasn’t playing when the Raptors won? Lost some credibility
So who do you pick?…
1.Embiid
2.Porzingis
3.AD
4.Z.Williamson
I’m taking DNPKP as he’s the only one with a reasonable contract expectation next year and beyond.
Praying on an expansion draft in order to get rid of him hahaha
But nah in all honesty it sucks he looks like he was almost back to his best during the later half of the season.
I just wish instead of being this bad playoff side with expectations and hype we just have it up and had a small rebuild. Maxey and VJ are great but aside from them it’s dumb. Grimes will leave in FA, Oubre could leave, PG although he had a good come back year his at the very end of his career and Embiid is just Embiid.
Need to tidy up the books, try add a young stud to pair with Maxey and VJ and start this thing over.