Joel Embiid’s preseason is over.
The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Sunday that Embiid will be held out of the remainder of the preseason due to left knee injury management. Team doctors evaluated Embiid on Thursday, according to John Clark of NBC Sports. While they feel he is “progressing well,” Embiid won’t take the court until the team’s season opener on Oct. 23.
Sixers say as part of his left knee management, Joel Embiid was evaluated by doctors on Thursday. Embiid is progressing well and will continue to participate in an individualized treatment plan designed to best support his health and well-being for the 2024-25 season. He will not play in…
– John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 13, 2024
Embiid appeared in just 39 games last season while dealing with the meniscus injury he first suffered in late January. He underwent surgery and was expected to miss six to eight weeks recovering. He returned in time for the playoffs, and he even dropped 50 points in Game 3 of their opening-round series against the New York Knicks, but the 76ers were knocked out in the first round. Embiid averaged 34.7 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Embiid joined Team USA during their gold medal run at the Olympics this past summer. He averaged 12 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in Paris. contract extension this past offseason as well.
He worked to better manage his knee during the offseason, as he has a history of knee injuries, and said he lost between 25 to 30 pounds to try to take stress off his knees. Embiid did not go with the 76ers to their preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Iowa on Friday or against the Celtics in Boston on Saturday. He was expected to be a limited participant during the preseason this fall, though he only appeared in one preseason game last year.
The 76ers went 47-35 last season and made the playoffs for the seventh straight campaign, although the franchise has not reached the Eastern Conference finals since the 2000-01 season. They also had a busy offseason to try to end that drought, adding Paul George in free agency while keeping and Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry. Tyrese Maxey also signed a long-term deal along with Embiid’s extension.
Despite all those moves, however, Embiid is still the centerpiece for the 76ers. If they are to ultimately make a deep postseason run, Embiid staying healthy throughout the season will be critical.
