Philadelphia 76ers Center Joel Embiid Could Be Talking a Year off the NBA Court if “Radical Procedure” Becomes His Last Resort | NBA News
Having played in only 19 games out of 56 so far, Joel Embiid is having one of his worst seasons in the past few years. A consistent knee problem has been the bane of his career trajectory since early 2024, and things have only gone downhill since then. And now, recent updates on the NBA player do not sound too good, with chances of him having a knee surgery that could sideline him for a year looming in the distance.
Joel Embiid could be looking at a long time off-court
Joel Embiid could be looking at a 6 month to 1-year absence from the basketball court if he undergoes knee surgery. According to Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer, doctors have suggested that Embiid undergo a “radical procedure,” including microfracture surgery, meniscus replacement, low-dose radiation therapy, or osteotomy (which involves breaking a bone in the hip to realign the joint).
Having been named the 2022-23 NBA MVP, this is a complete reversal of what he probably had seen for himself after such a high. But after tearing the meniscus in his knee last season, things haven’t been too easy for him. Joel Embiid is currently averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists – a far cry of his performance from last season. But with such a complicated surgery looming over his head, his recovery period would be quite long, stretching from 6 months to almost a year.
Joel Embiid is in a tough spot with the Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid has a 4-year $250 million contract with the 76ers. So if he cannot give his best performance on the court, the team will do their best to get him back in shape. If that means doing experimental procedures on an athlete, then so be it. So basically, it depends on which route they think will bring the best result.
The knee surgery that they are perusing currently could have Embiid sitting out the rest of the season, as well as most of the half of next season. They are considering alternative options in their current treatment plans, including injections, but so far, it has not worked.
One of the reasons for his persistent knee problems was caused by not letting it have the time to rest after the surgery back in February of 2024. If this happens again, Embiid could be looking at some major damage instead of healing.
Also Read: Will Joel Embiid play tonight against the Chicago Bulls? Latest update on the Philadelphia 76ers star’s injury report (February 24, 2025)
