After delaying the inevitable for a few weeks, the Philadelphia 76ers have shut down Joel Embiid for the remainder of the season. The 2022-23 NBA MVP has only been able to suit up for 19 games this season and will now seek a long-term solution to his continued knee trouble.
Embiid has not looked like himself this season. The Sixers star is averaging 23.8 points per game, his fewest since the 2019-20 season, and 8.2 rebounds per game, his fewest since his rookie season. Embiid also has shot just 44.4% from the floor and 29.9% on three-point attempts, which are the worst percentages of his entire NBA career.
There was a clear lack of trust in Embiid’s knee as he attacked the basket or jumped off it which became increasingly concerning as the season progressed. His level of mobility has gotten worse, which has further raised the level of concern.
Just a week ago, Embiid ominously told reporters: “I probably need to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have trust when you’re not yourself.”
There have been whispers about Embiid’s desire for surgery for several weeks. This was magnified by the star player telling ESPN’s Lisa Salters he “will likely take another surgery and a long recovery period, something he didn’t have after the initial injury last February.” Salters reported this on the Feb. 9’s 76ers vs. Bucks broadcast.
Expect an all-hands-on-deck effort from the Sixers organization to find the best path forward for his long-term health moving forward. Philadelphia has opted to take the lowest-risk route to this point, relying on injections and rehab as its method of treatment. The belief expressed by the team is the knee would settle into its “new normal” and build up a tolerance to the wear and tear that basketball brings on. While Embiid has been open about his desire for surgery, neither he nor the team are sure this is even an option on the table.
Whether they feel great about the investment or not, the Sixers are married to Embiid for his long-term future. He signed a three-year extension for $192.9 million this summer which has not even kicked in yet. Embiid is on the books for $55.2 million next year, $59.5 million in 2026-27, $64.3 million in 2027-28, and then a player option for $69.1 million in 2028-29. This goes without mentioning the four-year, $202 million contract that Paul George agreed to this past offseason.
It makes logical sense to attempt to move on from the star and begin an era centered around Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. But the price it would cost to offload this level of contract likely makes it not worth pursuing. Every other team in the NBA aware of the same risks the Sixers are currently facing.
Shutting Embiid down is also a decision in favor of the Sixers’ long-term outlook as they will attempt to salvage their 2025 draft pick. Philadelphia traded this pick to the Thunder in 2020 for Al Horford, but it remains top six protected. If the 76ers earn a top six pick, they keep the selection, otherwise it goes to the Thunder. Currently, the Sixers hold the sixth-worst record in the league and surely would not mind sinking down the list in the coming weeks to increase their odds.
There are more questions than answers regarding the future of the Sixers and Embiid at this point. Keeping their draft pick and adding a young talent would be a great silver lining on an otherwise disastrous season. But the biggest question will remain if Embiid can ever return to the All-NBA version of himself and how long his return to this will be. He has put up an impressive internal battle with his body throughout his career with injuries proving bothersome since before he came to the league.
Embiid has had three meniscus surgeries during his time in the league. Additionally, he has dealt with two breaks in the navicular bone in his foot, two broken orbitals in his face, a torn ligament in his thumb, Bell’s palsy and a variety of other issues. The game of basketball has not been kind to Embiid’s body and updates will be expected soon for what his next steps to getting back on the floor will be.
