In a miserable season, the 76ers were holding out hope of making the play-in tournament and going on an unlikely run through the Eastern bracket. But according to a statement from the team, Joel Embiid will not return this season, effectively ending the Sixers’ playoff chances.
“The Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid have been consulting with top specialists regarding ongoing issues with his left knee,” wrote the 76ers. “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. We are working with medical experts to determine the exact treatment plan and will update 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.”
The superstar big man last played on February 22, when he dropped 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Embiid hasn’t been seen on the court ever since, but there was optimism that he would return for the 76ers’ playoff run. Paul George even shut down his podcast to focus on the 76ers’ upcoming push.
It was later revealed that Embiid’s injury was so serious, it required regular injections just to make him available to play. That’s not to mention the rumors of the 76ers considering knee surgery to help further prevent injuries in the future.
It’s not a positive sign for the 76ers but it’s been a long time coming. This whole campaign has been a disaster from the start and Embiid has never quite been himself with averages of 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 44.4% shooting.
Both Tyrese Maxey and Paul George struggled to meet expectations and have yet to develop a connection offensively. The result has been a substandard performance all-around, leaving the 76ers at 12th in the East with an abysmal 20-38 record. They are currently 2.5 games back from the 10 seed.
With the decision to shut down Embiid, the 76ers have essentially punted on this season and we can expect some kind of load management for the other core players as well, including Maxey, George, and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Besides keeping their veteran players fresh for next season, it puts the Sixers in play to keep their 2025 draft pick, which is top-six protected. If they lose enough games over the next few weeks, it could grant them the ultimate prize in the form of Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, or Dylan Harper.
Ultimately, as tough as it is for the fans to accept, the 76ers made the right choice here to avoid risking their future in a season that’s already lost. Their best hope for success now is if Embiid can get healthy and return to being the guy who won the MVP in 2023.
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