Headline: Joel Embiids Season Ends Early as Knee Issues Persist, Raising Questions About His Future

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season due to persistent issues with his left knee.

The team announced this update on Friday.

Earlier this week, Embiid completed a series of evaluations regarding his knee, which concluded with a diagnosis deeming him medically unfit to compete. The 76ers stated that they are collaborating with medical professionals to establish a specific treatment plan.

A two-time NBA scoring leader, Embiid has faced injury challenges throughout the season and also served a three-game suspension for an altercation with a media member. He is averaging 23.8 points this season, a significant decrease compared to his past three seasons where he averaged over 30 points and claimed two scoring titles. In his last two games, he managed to score only a total of 29 points.

Once viewed as strong contenders for the NBA championship, the 76ers are currently experiencing a nine-game losing streak as they head into Saturday’s matchup against the Warriors. Despite this downward trend, they remain just 2.5 games away from a Play-In tournament berth as of Friday’s NBA slate.

Earlier this month, Embiid hinted at the possibility of additional surgery on his left knee.

“The simple truth is that when you’re dealing with something inconsistent, eventually, a decision needs to be made,” Embiid remarked. “We’re uncertain about the exact nature of the issue and are exploring every potential solution.”

With Embiid now officially out, the 76ers are likely assessing their future strategies as they find themselves struggling in the standings.

Last season, he played only 39 games due to a torn meniscus in his left knee, with the 76ers announcing in early February that he had undergone surgery. Embiid returned in early April, contributed to the 76ers’ playoff journey, and went on to win a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team at the Paris Games last year.

After the 76ers’ loss to the Bucks on February 9, Embiid expressed concerns about not having adequate time to recuperate following his surgery last year.

This season, the 76ers have a record of 8-11 with Embiid and 12-27 without him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.