The Sixers put out an update Sunday on Joel Embiid, saying the star center is “progressing well,” but he still won’t play in any preseason games ahead of the season opener.
Take the following medical update about Joel Embiid however you wish.
The Sixers on Sunday provided the following:
Per Sixers, as part of his left knee management, Joel Embiid was assessed by doctors Thursday. Embiid is progressing well, will continue to take part in individual treatment plan designed to best support his health for season. He will not play in this week’s preseason games.
— Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) October 13, 2024
It’s understandable if this concerns you. Embiid and the organization have done little to earn fans’ trust when it comes to injury updates. After the star big man was able to play in the Olympics this summer — albeit with a bulky knee brace and not looking 100% — you would expect him to play in the preseason at some point. Those reps with new teammates, including Paul George, would seem to be valuable.
If you’re the more optimistic type, you can choose to believe this is Embiid and the team doing what they said they would do in keeping the center as healthy as possible for the season. The mindset Embiid expressed at media day feels long overdue.
“As soon as we lost last year,” he said, “I texted [Daryl Morey] and I was like, ‘We’ve got to do whatever it takes to make sure that, in the postseason, I’m healthy.’ This year, there’s no agenda — All-Star, All-NBA, there’s none of that. It’s whatever it takes to make sure that I get to that point and I’m ready to go.”
So, Embiid will not suit up for a preseason game. For context, he played in just one exhibition last season.
The regular season begins for the Sixers in 10 days when they host Doc Rivers and the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 23. If he misses that one …