Despite Joel Embiid’s foot sprain healing, the big man’s surgically repaired knee is now experiencing swelling, according to the Sixers.
Well, at least the foot sprain is all better.
Before practice, the Sixers announced that Joel Embiid experienced an increase in swelling in his left knee. This happened after an on-court workout the day prior as he was trying to work his way back from a left foot sprain that caused him to miss six games. The team said while the sprain has healed, the swelling occurred following the workout.
He will be out on the upcoming road trip and will be re-evaluated in approximately a week.
ICYMI, here’s the team’s update on Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/AdfylEf8dn
— Josh Grieb (@JGrieb10) January 17, 2025
He’ll miss at least the next three games against the Pacers, Bucks and Nuggets. So that’s another year of Embiid missing the matchup against Nikola Jokic in Denver.
It’s hard to see the Sixers, still in the 11th seed at 15-24, being able to climb out of this in any sort of meaningful way. They’re in the middle of one of, if not their toughest stretches of the season. Four of their next five games are back-to-backs, four of those opponents are playoff teams as well.
Philadelphia is 15-24
Their first round pick goes to OKC if it falls between 7-30.
The pick is currently 8th.
Next 11 games:
at IND
at MIL
at DEN
CLE
at CHI
LAL
SAC
DEN
BOS
DAL
MIA— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 17, 2025
This is now the third time this season that swelling will cause Embiid to miss an extended period of time this season, including not being ready for the start of the season. Not to mention the six games he missed due to the foot sprain.
Philadelphia owes their first-round pick this year to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it does not fall within the top six picks. They currently have the eighth worst record in the league. That gives them a 26.3% of jumping into the top four and keeping the pick, according to Tankathon.