According to sources who spoke to ESPN on Sunday, Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are talking to doctors about other alternatives, like surgery, for his ailing left knee.
Although Embiid’s condition has not improved despite his will to play and current therapies, which include frequent injections, according to insiders, both parties had hoped for improvement.
According to reports, Embiid is expected to have knee testing early this week, after which both sides will consult with experts to determine the best course of action.
In recent weeks, Embiid has stated both in public and privately that he may require surgery or a prolonged period of rest to allow his knee to recover, but he has been adamant about finding a way to continue playing.
Joel Embiid’s problem with injuries
After damaging the meniscus in his knee, he only participated in 39 games the previous season. He returned in early April after surgery in early February, played in the 76ers’ playoff run, and went on to win a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team in the summer. Earlier this month, he said that he didn’t have enough time to recuperate from the procedure.
He has only participated in 19 of 56 games this season due to persistent knee problems and a foot sprain. After Saturday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Embiid’s knee swelled, making him doubtful to play against the Chicago Bulls on Monday, according to sources.
After missing all six of his 3-point attempts and scoring just 14 points in 31 minutes, he was benched late in the fourth quarter and was slow to get up late in the third quarter against the Nets after losing the ball and hitting the court. It is the first time since May 2021 that he has scored 15 points or less in back-to-back games.
Before this season, Embiid, the 2022–2023 NBA MVP, had been an All-Star in each of his previous seven seasons. The 30-year-old has averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season, which is his lowest rebounding total since his debut campaign in 2016–17 and his lowest scoring performance since 2019–20.
