PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid’s left knee continues to be problematic for the 76ers, casting uncertainty over his immediate future in the lineup. Standing at seven feet, the All-Star center underwent diagnostic tests on Monday, with additional evaluations planned for the subsequent days. Philadelphia had to face the Chicago Bulls without Embiid, marking his 38th absence of the season. The team is considering multiple courses of action — ranging from resting him to potential surgical intervention or even playing through the discomfort — but the decision largely hinges on upcoming test results.
The central question persists among the Philadelphia faithful: Could this injury mean that the seven-time All-Star has played his final game of the season? “Not at that point, at all,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse reassured on Monday. “We are playing and testing and trying to figure it out and go from there.”
Embiid’s participation has been limited this season, appearing in only 19 of the 57 games played by the Sixers, who approached Monday with a lackluster 20-36 record, hanging onto slim hopes of an NBA play-in tournament spot. Though he has averaged 23.8 points — a noticeable drop from his past seasons where he tallied at least 30 and secured two scoring titles — he only managed 29 points collectively in his last pair of outings. “I don’t think anybody envisioned it going like this,” Nurse reflected. “It’s disappointing on many levels. He wants to play. We want him to play. Our best version is of with him playing. It hasn’t worked out like that. Yet.”
During a narrow 105-102 loss against Brooklyn on Saturday, Nurse opted to rest Embiid for the entirety of the fourth quarter. Though he accumulated only 14 points in 31 minutes, missing six three-point shots, he was omitted during the crucial rally in which Philadelphia erased a 17-point deficit to briefly gain an advantage, only to be ultimately defeated by Nic Claxton’s game-winning shot at the buzzer.
After attaining NBA MVP accolades in the 2022-23 season, Embiid has participated in merely 58 regular-season games, plus seven postseason or play-in encounters. Prior knee issues, including a torn meniscus, curtailed his appearances last year, leading to early February surgery after which he returned in April and contributed to Olympic triumphs for the U.S. national team the following summer.
Despite this, Embiid acknowledged insufficient recovery time from the surgery during recent months. He is not the sole star battling physical challenges and output dips. Paul George, entering a four-year, $212 million contract, has not maintained his prior scoring forms, marred by injuries and poor shooting in his debut Philly season. Unable to breach the 17-point mark since January 24, he has frequently posted single-digit scores.
George, offering insight into enduring this kind of physical strain, commented, “Drugs help me,” while reflecting on the challenges such injuries pose, especially at Embiid’s stature and playstyle. George himself required injections this season to cope with various injuries, most notably a tendon issue in his left pinky finger.
The 76ers’ playoff ambitions seem increasingly unlikely, and George emphasized the urgency, stating, “We’re still having the same conversations. Here we are, just about 60 games in. It’s unacceptable.” He emphasized that the team faces a choice to leave it all on the court or risk not meeting their potential. Currently, the Sixers remain under .500 when their top trio—Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey—start, and they’ve stumbled through seven consecutive losses.
To add to the season’s challenges, the team’s first-round draft pick is contingent on their standing, potentially transferring to the Oklahoma City Thunder unless it falls within the top six of the lottery, which adds layers to considerations potentially shutting down players like Embiid and potentially George for the season. “It’s all been challenging,” Nurse confessed. “The sheer number of guys that have been out and in and out and not playing, then him playing at less than his best, all those things have been a challenge. Just try and figure it out night by night and take it as it comes.”