Joel Embiid’s playoff resume, while decorated with statistical dominance, is marred by consistent early exits and the glaring absence of a Conference Finals appearance. Now 31 years old, the Philadelphia 76ers superstar has spent 11 seasons in the NBA (including two missed seasons) and yet remains stuck in a loop of promising regular seasons followed by postseason heartbreak.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of Embiid’s journey and his failure to advance beyond the second round.
2014–2016: (Did Not Play)
Embiid missed his first two seasons due to a broken navicular bone in his foot. After being drafted third overall in 2014, a setback in recovery during 2015 required a second surgery, dashing hopes of an early debut. The Sixers remained in rebuild mode, with “The Process” taking center stage, Embiid’s nickname before he even played an NBA game.
2016–17: Missed Playoffs
After nearly 1000 days since being drafted, Embiid finally debuted. He played just 31 games before tearing his meniscus. But what fans saw was spectacular: 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game on 46.6% shooting and 36.7% from deep. Though the 76ers missed the playoffs, Embiid’s star potential was finally clear.
2017–18: Second Round Exit
This was the start of “The Process.”
Embiid averaged 22.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks across 63 games. Philly went 52–30, finishing 3rd in the East. They beat the Miami Heat 4–1 in Round 1, then lost 4–1 to the undermanned Celtics in Round 2. Jayson Tatum and Terry Rozier outplayed Philly’s young core. Embiid shot just 44% from the field in that series, showing early playoff inconsistency.
2018–19: Second Round Exit
This was Philly’s best team. Embiid (averaging 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game) played alongside Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris. They beat Brooklyn 4–1 in Round 1.
In Round 2, they clashed with the Raptors in a brutal seven-game war. Embiid had brilliant moments, but he also scored just 13 points in Game 7 on 4-of-18 shooting. Kawhi Leonard’s iconic buzzer-beater ended their season. Embiid was in tears after. Despite being their best defender, his health and offensive inconsistencies were exploited again.
2019–20: First Round Exit
In a weird COVID-shortened season, Embiid (averaging 23.0 points and 11.6 rebounds) couldn’t keep Philly afloat. They finished 6th at 43–30. Ben Simmons was injured heading into the bubble, and the Celtics dismantled the Sixers 4–0 in Round 1.
Embiid was the lone star, but Boston double-teamed him constantly, and he struggled to make his teammates better. Another early exit.
2020–21: Second Round Exit
Under Doc Rivers, Embiid finally looked like an MVP, averaging 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and shooting a career-high 51.3%. Philly went 49–23, earning the No. 1 seed. They beat the Wizards 4–1 in Round 1.
In Round 2, they met Atlanta. Embiid played through a small meniscus tear, averaging 30.4 points and 12.7 rebounds. Yet the Sixers blew multiple big leads. Game 7 ended in disaster after Simmons passed up an open dunk. Despite Embiid’s dominance, they lost 4–3. He was once again sent home in Round 2.
2021–22: Second Round Exit
Embiid led the league in scoring at 30.6 PPG, adding 11.7 RPG and 4.2 APG. After the Simmons drama, Philly acquired James Harden midseason. The Sixers went 51–31, finishing 4th. They beat the Raptors in 6 games, but Embiid suffered an orbital fracture in the series. He missed the first two games against Miami in Round 2.
Philly went down 0–2. Embiid returned with a mask, clearly hobbled, and they fell 4–2. Another second-round exit. Another injury cloud.
2022–23: Second Round Exit
This was Embiid’s personal peak. He averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game on 54.8% shooting. He finally won the MVP. The Sixers went 54–28, beating Brooklyn in a sweep. Then they faced the Celtics. Embiid missed Game 1 with a sprained knee. Philly stole it behind Harden’s heroics.
But Boston adjusted. Embiid was solid but inefficient, shooting just 42.1% against Al Horford. Game 7 saw him score 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting. Another second-round loss.
2023–24: First Round Exit
Embiid started off looking like a repeat MVP. In 34 games, he averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on a ridiculous 52.9% shooting and 38.8% from three. But a meniscus tear shut him down for over two months.
He returned just before the playoffs, clearly not at full strength. The Sixers were the 7th seed (47–35) and faced the Knicks in Round 1. Despite battling, Embiid couldn’t carry them past New York. They lost in 6 games, and his lack of explosion and conditioning were obvious.
2024–25: Missed The Playoffs
This was the lowest point. Embiid entered the season already managing multiple ailments. He played just 19 games, averaging 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds on 44.4% shooting and 29.9% from three, both career lows.
New addition Paul George played just 41 games. Tyrese Maxey also missed time. The Sixers crumbled, finishing 24–58 and missing the playoffs entirely. Embiid’s window seemed to be closing fast.
Legacy Check
In total, Embiid has played in seven playoff campaigns since his debut. He’s made the second round five times and has never made it past. His teams have blown leads, lost Game 7s, and crumbled under expectations.
Many of those failures were not entirely his fault, including injuries, teammates underperforming, and coaching mistakes. But the fact remains: Joel Embiid has a loaded resume of personal accolades (MVP, 6-time All-NBA selection, seven-time All-Star), but zero Conference Finals appearances.
The NBA has had MVPs like Charles Barkley and Steve Nash fall short, but none as consistently snakebitten in the second round as Embiid. As he enters his 12th season with more health concerns and roster uncertainty around him, the championship clock is ticking faster than ever.
The talent has never been in question. The postseason results, however, tell a frustrating story, one that, so far, has been defined by heartbreak, timing, and unmet expectations.
And now, the window is closing.
At 31 years old with a growing injury history, Joel Embiid may only have 2–3 postseason chances left before his prime is officially gone. The Sixers need urgency. Embiid needs health. And if a Conference Finals run is ever going to happen, it has to come soon or not at all.
