The Philadelphia 76ers announced that center Joel Embiid is set to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA season to focus on rehabilitating a persistent knee injury.
This decision, aimed at prioritizing his long-term health, follows weeks of speculation about his condition after Embiid expressed that the injury was impacting his performance. The 2023 NBA MVP expressed how surgery would be required to regain his most dominant form.
“I don’t know, I’m sure you can figure it out,” Embiid said. “The way I was playing a year ago, is not the way I’m playing right now. It sucks, but I believe I probably need, you know, to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have the trust when you’re not yourself.”
NBA News: Joel Embiid’s Knee Injury Remains a Concern
The injury was brought to the forefront following Embiid’s admission to reporters on Feb. 20 that he could not play at his regular standard. The situation escalated after he sat out the entire fourth quarter in a game against the Brooklyn Nets. Sixers coach Nick Nurse praised Embiid for his effort amid those challenges.
“He’s giving us what he can. Obviously, he’s not himself,” Nurse said before Embiid was shut down. “We all know that he’s not certainly the guy we’re used to seeing playing at a super-high level. I commend him for giving us what he can.”
Already on a nine-game losing streak and sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers’ struggles are compounded by Embiid’s absence. Philadelphia’s last victory came nearly a month ago, on Feb. 4. The team showed grit in their recent game against the New York Knicks, although they fell short 110-105. Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points despite battling a right finger sprain that affected his shooting and ball handling.
“Mostly just my shot and my ball handling,” Maxey said regarding the impact of his injury. “I can’t really pound the ball like I wanted to, but I’m not gonna make any excuses. Some of those, they gotta go in.”
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George also put up strong performances, with Oubre scoring 27 points and George adding 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, though he turned the ball over seven times.
Steve Kerr Shares Sympathy for Joel Embiid
As the 76ers continue to seek solutions, they face the red-hot Golden State Warriors next, led by Stephen Curry, who is coming off a 56-point performance against the Orlando Magic in a 121-115 road victory. The Warriors, riding a five-game winning streak, are just a half-game behind the LA Clippers for the sixth spot in the West.
Before facing off against the Sixers, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr responded to the news, expressing sympathy for Embiid. Kerr served as the head coach of Team USA during Embiid’s gold-medal run during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I feel badly for him and the Sixers. Our league is so dependent on stars and great players,” Kerr said of Embiid. “I want him to succeed and have a great run and a great next few years with Philly, so very disappointing… It’s all about how you bounce back.”
This matchup marks the season’s final meeting between the Sixers and the Warriors. The Warriors previously dominated Philadelphia 139-105 in January, with Curry delivering an exceptional 8-of-8 from beyond the arc to score 30 points.
As Philadelphia looks to break its losing streak, it faces a formidable opponent in Golden State, which showcases the uphill battle without Joel Embiid. Philadelphia must determine how it intends to approach its outgoing top-six protected first-round pick, given that its 20-38 record is already the sixth-worst in the NBA.
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