Joel Embiid’s preseason ramp-up has him good to go for the Sixers’ exhibition finale.
Embiid is available for the team’s preseason matchup Friday night vs. the Timberwolves, a team official said. Chris Haynes first reported the news.
The last time Embiid played was on Feb. 22 in the Sixers’ loss to the Nets. His last preseason game came on Oct. 20, 2023.
Since media day, Embiid and the Sixers had avoided any exact public timelines for his return from arthroscopic left knee surgery last year. Embiid only played in 19 games during the Sixers’ catastrophic 2024-25 season.
“I feel pretty good,” he said on Sept. 26. “I think we made a lot of progress over the last couple of months. We’ve got a plan in place. Try to check off all the boxes, so just taking it day by day. … It’s more about making sure everything is right and doing everything right, and then going from there.”
Embiid has been a regular practice participant and drawn unanimously strong reviews for his work there.
“He’s been looking great. … He’s in tremendous shape with his body,” Quentin Grimes said Tuesday. “With some of the live stuff that he does, he looks like he’s pretty much getting back to his old self.”
The Sixers’ seven-time All-Star center took part in the team’s Blue-White scrimmage Sunday. He looked sharp and smooth.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe is also set to play Friday after missing the Sixers’ preseason defeat to the Magic with left hip soreness. Grimes is slated for his first action of the preseason.
Paul George (left knee), Jared McCain (right thumb) and Trendon Watford (right hamstring) will remain out. George has made significant rehab progress recently, practicing Thursday and participating in 5-on-5 scrimmaging.
“You still see this incredible shotmaker and I think he was moving very well,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said of George on Wednesday. “He didn’t seem tentative to me.”
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