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In Camden, New Jersey, the Philadelphia 76ers are still waiting for the season debuts of both Joel Embiid and Paul George, as both players will be sidelined for the game against the Detroit Pistons due to knee injuries.
On Tuesday, the duo took part in some parts of the practice, but their status remains uncertain as the team plans to reassess them later this week.
Coach Nick Nurse chose not to provide specific details on their recovery progress or the expected timeline for their return to action.
“We’re eager for them to get back on the court, to be healthy, and to perform at a high level throughout the season,” Nurse stated following practice.
“My primary focus right now is ensuring that the team is prepared to perform at its best for tomorrow night’s game.”
Paul George, who recently signed a four-year contract worth $212 million in free agency, has not yet played for the Sixers.
The 34-year-old is dealing with a bone bruise resulting from a hyperextension of his left knee during a preseason match, but fortunately, he has no structural damage.
George sustained the injury when his knee buckled unexpectedly during a defensive maneuver, adding to the team’s injury woes.
Joel Embiid, who secured a gold medal at the Olympics in Paris while playing for Team USA, is nursing what has been labeled as left knee management by the franchise.
The 30-year-old center did not make any appearances in the preseason and is currently under scrutiny by the NBA, which is investigating why he did not participate in the season opener against Milwaukee.
This investigation falls under the NBA’s player participation policy that was implemented last season, aiming to ensure all players are available for nationally televised games.
Both Embiid and George missed the team’s recent road trip through Toronto and Indiana, contributing to a record of 1-2 as they head into Wednesday’s home matchup against Detroit.
Recently, Tyrese Maxey shined in their absence, scoring a season-high 45 points and playing a crucial role as he netted 10 of the Sixers’ 13 points in overtime to secure a victory against the Indiana Pacers, ending the team’s losing streak at 118-114.
The 76ers are also gearing up to face the Memphis Grizzlies this Saturday night.
Last season, Embiid’s participation was limited to just 39 games due to knee surgery stemming from a meniscus tear sustained on January 30 against Golden State.
He made his return for the playoffs, where he was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy during a first-round exit to the Knicks.
Before training camp, Embiid signed a contract worth $193 million, as he already had a history of the team’s playoff struggles, having not advanced beyond the second round since 2001, largely due to his inability to remain healthy.
Statistics from last season indicate that the 76ers had a record of 31-8 with Embiid in the lineup compared to 16-27 without him.
Ahead of this season, Embiid shared that he managed to shed about 25 to 30 pounds to enhance his conditioning, with the goal of not rushing back from any potential knee issues.
Embiid was chosen as the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft but faced delays in his career due to injury setbacks, missing his first two full seasons.
Since his initial full season in 2016, he has played in 433 out of 804 possible regular-season games and only 59 out of 67 playoff appearances.
In the 2023 playoffs, he dealt with a right knee sprain that sidelined him for critical games against both Brooklyn and Boston.
His history of injuries includes missing games in previous playoff runs, such as two in the second round in 2022 and another in the first round in 2021 due to various injuries, plus the two games in 2018 because of an orbital fracture and another in 2019 related to knee issues.
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