In the latest update in an injury saga, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee next week, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Per Charania, Embiid will be reevaluated six weeks after surgery.
Embiid was ruled out for the season in February after dealing with recurring knee issues. The team announced the decision to shut down Embiid to focus on the center’s “long-term health and performance.”
At the time, the next steps for Embiid were not clear; now, the 2023 NBA MVP is opting for surgery. It will be Embiid’s second procedure on that knee in just over a year after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in February 2024.
Embiid has been dealing with the knee issue throughout the season. He missed the first nine games with what the team called “left knee management” — eventually prompting an NBA probe over the All-Star’s game participation.
But the knee issues persisted, and by February, Embiid admitted he was not playing up to his usual standard. Embiid consulted with doctors and specialists toward the end of February before ultimately deciding he needed to take a new approach.
Due to a combination of injuries, injury management and a suspension for a confrontation with a reporter, Embiid played 19 games this season, averaging a lower-than-normal 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.
Despite initially high hopes for the team after signing free agent Paul George to a massive deal in the offseason, it’s been a tough run for the 76ers. Philadelphia sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 23-53 record. The team was officially eliminated from the playoffs earlier this week.
Read the full article here
