Hoping for a Speedy Recovery
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The 76ers announced that seven-time All-Star center Joel Embiid will undergo arthroscopic surgery this week on his left knee. This is another chapter in a frustrating season for both Embiid and the Sixers.
Who would have thought that the most suspense in this season was seeing whether the Sixers retain their Top-6 protected first round draft choice, which was traded to Oklahoma City?
The Sixers will be among the top six worst teams in the NBA, although whether they get to keep the pick will be determined by the draft lottery.
In a season that began with high expectations after signing free agent Paul George, nothing has gone right for the Sixers.
It all starts with Embiid, who hasn’t been healthy all season. He decided to play for the U.S. in the Olympics last summer and that is a decision that surely could be questioned.
When the preseason and regular season started Embiid was not ready to go.
He missed the first six regular season games due to injury and was suspended for three others by the NBA for an altercation with a reporter.
The Sixers were 2-7 in the first nine games without Embiid. He then played four of the next five games and the Sixers lost them all.
So, they started the year 2-12 and there were still those who were optimistic that they could turn it around if Embiid was able to play at an all-star level.
As it turns out, he only played in 23 games, the last one coming Feb. 22 in a 105-103 loss to Brooklyn. The Sixers would announce a week later that Embiid was out for the season.
The fact that he is having arthroscopic surgery would appear to be positive news, verses something like microfracture surgery, which would shelve Embiid much longer.
But who is to say the surgery will work?
This is the second surgery he will have on the left knee. In Feb. of 2024 he also had surgery after suffering a torn meniscus.
One could say he never has been 100 percent since.
Embiid then labored as the Sixers lost in the first round of the 2024 playoffs to the New York Knicks. He also was dealing with bell’s palsy during the postseason.
To show what a talent Embiid is, despite his struggles, he had one 50-point game in that playoff series and in the final game, he contributed 39 points and 13 rebounds.
Few players can post those numbers when healthy, let alone when far less than 100 percent.
Embiid is incredibly talented, as anybody who has seen him play knows. Even in this poor season, he averaged 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30.2 minutes. That is 28.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per 36 minutes.
This was from a player who was broken down and in pain. Imagine if he can ever return to health.
Embiid’s health is the biggest question by far about the Sixers future. If he is healthy enough to play 60 games a year and not miss time in the postseason, the Sixers would take that in a heartbeat.
Yet there is still the unknown.
His career has been marred by injury, mixed in with plenty of excellence.
What the Sixers get next year is anybody’s guess, but at least he will have a long offseason to work on his comeback.
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Author: Marc Narducci
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