Daryl Morey says Joel Embiid is ‘on track’ to return around the start of training camp
The Sixers’ drafting of VJ Edgecombe wasn’t the only news from the team Wednesday night.
After he played just 19 games this past season, the Sixers believe Joel Embiid will be ready for training camp in September.
“Things are on track to be ready right around there,” president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said Wednesday after making the team’s selection in the NBA draft.
Embiid started camp with the Sixers in 2024, but he was limited with a knee injury. The 2023 NBA MVP did not make his season debut until Nov. 12 against the Knicks. The Sixers will start training camp earlier than usual because of the preseason games in Abu Dhabi against the Knicks on Oct. 2-3.
» READ MORE: Five things to know about VJ Edgecombe, from playing barefoot in the Bahamas to a walking highlight reel
The star center wasn’t the only player to finish the season with an injury — Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Jared McCain were all sidelined. But the status of Embiid’s left knee has been up in the air since the announcement in April that he would undergo arthroscopic surgery.
“I spoke to Joel today,” Morey said Wednesday. “He’s very engaged, attacking rehab, doing everything he can to be out there. He had a meeting with Dr. [Jonathan] Glashow this week. ... Things are going well and we expect that to continue.”
In his 19 games, Embiid averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Since his MVP win in 2023, Embiid has played in just 65 NBA games between the regular season and the playoffs. He also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, playing in five games, including the final.