Joel Embiid has been the face of the Philadelphia 76ers for the past 10 seasons. Teams struggle to contain the 2023 regular-season MVP whenever he’s playing at his best on the hardwood, and he’s highly considered one of the best big men in the league despite the lack of silverware to prove it.
However, injuries have been the biggest thing that stopped him from establishing himself as one of the best bigs the game has ever seen. The Cameroon-born big man has never played more than 70 regular-season games in his career, a stat that some analysts questioning his legacy as a player.
Embiid hasn’t played much this season, and it would be fair for some fans to think he won’t be playing another minute of basketball this season.
With that being said, the team made an announcement that would be disappointing but unsurprising for many Sixers fans.
Joel Embiid will not be playing for the Philadelphia 76ers for the remainder of the 2024-25 season
FOX Sports’ Chantz Martin reported that the seven-time All-Star will not be playing for the remainder of the 2024-25 season after they tried (and failed) to get the Process started again:
“The Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid have been consulting with top specialists regarding ongoing issues with his left knee. After further evaluation, it has been determined that he is medically unable to play and will miss the remainder of the season to focus on treatment and rehabilitation,” the team said in a statement.
“We are working with medical experts to determine the exact treatment plan and will update media when we have more information. The team and specialists will continue working with Joel to ensure the best path forward for his long-term health and performance.”
The team’s PR ended what was another disappointing campaign for Embiid. He was categorically terrible in the 19 games he played this season, averaging only 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 0.9 blocks.
What’s next for Embiid and the rest of the Sixers?
The Sixers’ decision to shut Embiid down for the season brings plenty of questions about what’s next for the team.
They cannot hope to win in an easier Eastern Conference if Embiid remains unavailable when the team needs him most. While Paul George’s debut campaign in the City of Brotherly Love was anything but easy, he’s zeroing in on helping the team win as many games as possible.
Fortunately, Philly has Tyrese Maxey to count on whenever Embiid’s not on the floor. However, the 76ers must deal with his contract if they want to move him on. His contract will cost $55 million in the 2025-26 season, and there isn’t a lot of demand for a big man who gets injured often.
Embiid’s future with the team is a tricky affair that Daryl Morey and Elton Brand must address. However, it’s slowly becoming clearer that the team’s future might be away from the Process.
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