Sixers announce Joel Embiid will miss remainder of season, bringing nightmare campaign to close
The big man had only played 19 games this season as he struggled to gain full strength in his left knee after undergoing meniscus surgery last February.
Joel Embiid’s season is finished.
After further evaluation on the seven-time All-Star center’s left knee, the 76ers determined that Embiid was medically unable to play and will remain sidelined to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.
“We are working with the medical experts to determine the exact treatment plan and will update media when we have more information,” the team said Friday in a statement. “The team and specialists will continue working with Joel to ensure the best path forward for his long-term health and performance.”
This news came hours after Embiid was ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Golden State Warriors at the Wells Fargo Center. Embiid only played in 19 games this season.
He missed the previous two games while he and the team considered alternative options, including another surgery, for his ailing left knee. Embiid underwent testing on his knee on Monday and Tuesday.
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As of Friday afternoon, the Eastern Conference’s 12th-place Sixers (20-38) were 2½ games behind the 10th-place Chicago Bulls with 24 games remaining. That has some significance because the teams that finish Nos. 7 through 10 will participate in the NBA Play-In Tournament, which will determine the final two playoff spots. The Sixers’ goal is to advance to the play-in tourney.
But will that goal change with Embiid being ruled out for the remainder of the season?
The Sixers are riding an NBA-worst nine-game losing streak and have lost 11 of their last 12 games. It’s no secret that they needed a healthy Embiid to turn things around and make a serious postseason push.
Without Embiid, the Sixers, who have the league’s sixth-worst record, could consider tanking as a way to keep their top-six protected first-round pick in June’s NBA draft.
“I don’t have any goals other than that we’re playing to win and we’re playing to play better,” coach Nick Nurse said.
Without Embiid, Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele are expected to assume center duties. Adem Bona will serve as an emergency option.
Drummond got the most recent start Wednesday against the New York Knicks and took the mantle in 17 games this season. The 110-105 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden marked his fifth game back after being out with a sprained left toe. The big man had seven points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block in 29 minutes, 23 seconds.
”I think Drum, kind of like he did the other night,” Nurse said, “should be able to get the one or two or three rolls to the rim. Again, I think he was putting a little more pressure on the rim. He should be able to get one, two, three putbacks — offensive rebounds. I thought it certainly was one of his best games of the year the other night. And those are important things.”
Meanwhile, Yabusele started the previous two games at center before missing Wednesday’s contest with a right eye abrasion. The 6-foot-6, 279-pounder, who also plays power forward, returned to practice on Friday. The Frenchman said he’ll have a better idea of whether he’ll wear goggles Saturday against the Warriors (32-27) after testing a pair out during shootaround.
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But he’s surprised to only miss one game.
”I mean, I have no clue what was the injury or what was going on,” said Yabusele, who started a combined 28 games at center and power forward. “In my mind, when I recall it, I feel like his finger was so far into my eyes, like he could touch my brain, kind of. The feeling was like, ‘Oh my God’, like I was trying to open it. I just couldn’t, and it was weird, and it was really painful, but I’m glad to be back. I feel like I’m blessed to be [back] that quick. I want to be out there with my guys.”
Yabusele and Drummond have played critical roles this season. Embiid, who has been dealing with a knee problem all season, had a tough time moving around Saturday in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The 30-year-old was benched for the entire fourth quarter as a result.
Before that, he told ESPN on Feb. 8 that he might need offseason surgery and an extended rest period to get back to playing at an elite level. A dejected Embiid doubled down after Feb. 20’s loss to the Boston Celtics. He said he needs to “fix the problem” in his left knee to return to his All-Star form. Embiid scored 15 points on 3-for-9 shooting against the Celtics.
This season has been a disappointment from the start for Embiid, who has yet to recover from a knee problem dating back to last season. Embiid tore the meniscus in his left knee against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 30, 2024. The reigning MVP had surgery seven days later.
The 7-foot-2 center returned with seven games left in the regular season and missed two of those games because of load management. He was limited by the injury to close the season and during the team’s first-round playoff series loss to the New York Knicks. He also continued to don a knee brace while helping Team USA win a gold medal in this summer’s Paris Olympics.
His issues persisted as the 2024-25 season kicked into gear. Embiid missed the entire preseason and first six games of the season because of left knee management. After that, he served a three-game suspension for an off-the-court altercation. Then, on Nov. 18, the Sixers held a team meeting after a road loss to the Miami Heat. During the meeting, Tyrese Maxey reportedly called Embiid out for being late and explained how that affected the locker room.
After a rough patch that included seven missed games, a sinus fracture, and an ejection that ended with a tense standoff with referee Jenna Schroeder, Embiid was back to producing high-scoring performances. He played in five of six games and crossed the 25-point mark five straight times.
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He capped that stretch with a 28-point, 12-rebound, and six-assist effort in just three quarters against the Brooklyn Nets. It was his fourth double-double of the season and second in a row. But the euphoria was short-lived, as Embiid missed the next 15 games with a sprained left foot and left knee management.
He had a 29-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double upon his return on Feb. 4 against the Dallas Mavericks. Embiid then averaged 25.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in his next three games. In sharp contrast, he was a shell of himself in his last two games, averaging 14.5 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 31.8 % — including going 0-for-8 on three-pointers.