Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be sidelined until the regular season begins, the team announced on Sunday, as part of his ongoing management of his left knee. This decision follows Embiid’s absence from the team’s preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday and the Boston Celtics on Saturday.
The 76ers stated that Embiid underwent a medical assessment on Thursday. “As part of his left knee management, Joel Embiid was assessed by doctors on Thursday,” the team said. “Embiid is progressing well and will continue to take part in an individual treatment plan designed to best support his health and wellness for the 2024-25 season. He will not play in this week’s preseason games. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
Embiid, who recently shed 25 to 30 pounds during the offseason to lessen the burden on his knee, will miss the upcoming preseason games against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, and the Orlando Magic on Friday. The 76ers are scheduled to kick off their regular season on October 23rd with a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Last season, Embiid was limited to just 39 regular-season games due to his persistent left knee issues. He suffered an injury in a collision with Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga on January 30th and underwent a procedure to repair the damage to his meniscus on February 6th. Despite returning to action, he still had to manage the discomfort during the playoffs.
Despite his injury woes, Embiid had a phenomenal regular season, averaging an impressive 34.7 points and 11 rebounds, earning him a spot on the All-Star team for the seventh consecutive year. He was crowned the NBA MVP for the 2022-23 season, averaging 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in 66 games. He’s a two-time scoring champion and also added an Olympic gold medal with Team USA to his accolades this past summer.
Over his eight-season career, Embiid has amassed an average of 27.9 points and 11.2 rebounds in 433 games. While Embiid’s absence during the preseason will be a blow for the 76ers, the team will prioritize his health and ensure he is ready to contribute at full capacity for the upcoming season.