You have to trust the process.
Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid will officially undergo arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome left knee in the coming days. He will be reevaluated in six weeks and is expected to make a full recovery, sources told ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
He was officially ruled out for the rest of the season in late February.
“Following consultations with medical experts, it has been determined that Joel Embiid will undergo arthroscopic surgery next week to address his left knee,” according to a statement released by the team.
He had been dealing with a lingering knee injury that had kept him on the shelf earlier in the season.
Embiid staying healthy has been a constant issue and struggle. His career has been hampered by injuries that have often prevented him from maximizing his potential and abilities for a substantial period of time.
It has been a roller coaster 2024-25 season for Embiid off the court. It all began with the NBA fining the Sixers $100,000 due to statements made about Embiid’s health. Embiid was also suspended for three games without pay after he shoved a columnist from the Philadelphia Inquirer in the locker room during a confrontation over something the columnist wrote.
The 2022-23 MVP has not taken the floor since the 76ers’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets on February 22. He had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes of play.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe experienced significant swelling after the game and had talked with doctors to consider options concerning his knee.
The center averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in just 19 games this season.
“The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing right now,” Embiid said after a 124-104 loss to the Boston Celtics back in February, shortly before he was shut down for the season. “It sucks. … I probably need to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have trust when you’re not yourself.”
In December, Embiid sustained a sinus fracture when Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin’s hand inadvertently hit the 76ers’ big man in the final seconds before halftime. Mathurin was collecting an offensive rebound and attempting to lay the ball back up.
Embiid has dealt with facial injuries before. He suffered from a left orbital fracture in 2018 and a right orbital fracture in 2022 in the playoffs.
He suffered a significant foot injury in 2014 that delayed his NBA debut by an incredible two full seasons. He has dealt with knee injuries throughout his career, including a left knee injury in 2024 that derailed a potential MVP-caliber season.
The 76ers are in fifth place in the lottery standings, two games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets in sixth. That means two teams would, at least currently, have to jump the 76ers in the standings for Philadelphia to lose their pick, and the 76ers have a roughly 65% chance of holding on to it.
The hope will be not only to keep that pick and add another young player with high upside to the roster but also to get the collection of injured players back next season, and once again attempt to be a team capable for competing for a championship.
Those dreams, however, will begin and end with Embiid’s health, as he has four years and well over $200 million remaining on his contract with the 76ers.
