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!”
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).
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.
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….