Fact or Fiction: Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are in for a painfully long season

Each week during the 2023-24 NBA season, we will take a deeper dive into some of the league’s biggest storylines in an attempt to determine whether trends are based more in fact or fiction moving forward.

Fact or Fiction: Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are in for a long season

The NBA launched an investigation this week into one-time MVP Joel Embiid’s absence from the Philadelphia 76ers to start the season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Apparently the league has as many questions as the rest of us about the 7-footer’s continued lack of availability, and for good reason.

Embiid missed each of Philadelphia’s six preseason games with what the team termed “left knee injury management.” He tore the meniscus in his left knee for a second time in January, requiring another surgery, which sidelined him until April, when he returned at less than 100% for Philadelphia’s playoff run.

Joel Embiid sat out the Sixers’ season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

He played for Team USA in the Olympics and reported to training camp on time, touting his weight loss. Perhaps we should have paid closer attention when Embiid informed us on media day, “Physically, I’m OK. I’m not where I want to be. … Until they feel like I’m ready to go, I’m sure they’re going to hold me back.”

Hold him back, they did. The Sixers issued a statement before their regular-season opener, suggesting Embiid is “responding well to his individualized plan and expected to ramp up his return-to-play activities this week, including scrimmaging.” He is expected to miss at least two more games to start the season.

In other words, nine months removed from a second surgery to his left knee, six months after he returned to the court, three months since playing in Paris and one month into the 2024-25 campaign, Embiid is beginning to get into game shape. This should not only set off alarm bells; it is a five-alarm fire.

Embiid is listed at 7 feet and 280 pounds. Believe it or not, according to Basketball Reference, only four other players in history that size have ever made even a single All-Star team:…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/fact-or-fiction-joel-embiid-and-the-philadelphia-76ers-are-in-for-a-painfully-long-season-132500888.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-25 13:25:00

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