The Process is delayed yet again. Since he came into the league, Joel Embiid has urged the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase to support the team in going through the process of building an NBA champion. However, through multiple iterations, it hasn’t yet come to pass.
And it isn’t likely to happen this season either. In a statement made by the team on their official X profile, they officially announced that Embiid wouldn’t partake in action for the rest of the season. But what led Embiid down this path?
What Is Joel Embiid’s Injury?
A knee issue has plagued Embiid for the better part of two seasons. Last year, he tried to play through the issue, which worsened the situation and caused him to miss close to four months of basketball.
This year, the team and the Cameroonian center have been exercising caution — but to no avail. After Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the former league MVP needed daily injections to stay on the court, further evaluation became an inevitability.
Finally, confirmation came courtesy of the Sixers themselves. “The Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid have been consulting with top specialists regarding ongoing issues with his left knee. After further evaluation, it has been determined that he is medically unable to play and will miss the remainder of the season to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.”
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 28, 2025
However, they didn’t share what the process would look like moving forward. “We are working with medical experts to determine the exact treatment plan and will update the media when we have more information. The team and specialists will continue working with Joel to ensure the best path forward for his long-term health and performance.”
His constant tussle with injuries has brought what was once a very promising career to a halting stop. Now, his future appears to be in jeopardy and will need constant monitoring in the coming months. However, the 76ers made it clear just a few days ago that they were sticking with their franchise superstar.
“Philadelphia insists that it isn’t pulling any cord out of its plug just yet. It still views Embiid as its franchise cornerstone,” NBA insider Jake Fischer reported.
But with the toll his body has already taken, it is an uphill climb for the five-time All-NBA selection.
Embiid’s Injury History
The first instance of his acute injury history began before he was even drafted into the NBA. Days ahead of the 2014 NBA Draft, a stress fracture in his navicular bone set him out for his entire rookie season.
However, a second fracture on the same bone pushed his timeline back further, leading Embiid to miss the entire 2015-16 season as well. Finally, entering his pseudo-rookie season in 2017, he had a brief 31-game campaign that was shortened due to swelling in his left knee, the result of a minor meniscus tear.
The next year, an orbital bone fracture and a concussion led to him missing a chunk of the end of the 2018 season. After enjoying a relatively healthy period over the next two seasons, his problems returned in 2020.
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Ticky-tacky injuries continued to pile up over the next two seasons, with a broken finger, partially torn meniscus, another orbital bone fracture, and a ligament tear in his right thumb all keeping him out for brief periods.
Since 2024, however, the situation has gone from bad to worse. An errant landing for Jonathan Kuminga led Embiid to pursue surgery on his left knee. Staying out for four months, he returned in April.
However, the knee injury wasn’t fully healed, bothering him through the 2024 Summer Olympics and right through training camp and the preseason. This season, he’s been a limited participant in games, appearing in just 19 total outings.
