The Philadelphia 76ers know what everybody else knew. According to ESPN senior insider Shams Charania, Joel Embiid “underwent a new round of imaging on Monday to determine why his knee has not responded well to the treatment protocols he has received this season. The 76ers and Embiid consulted with dozens of doctors and specialists to determine the best path forward for 7-footer.”
He’ll sit out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Sixers Make Long-Awaited Joel Embiid Decision
The 2023 NBA MVP, Embiid didn’t look quite right at any point this season. In fact, even going back to the Paris Olympics, he was lumbering more than anyone could’ve expected. It’s always been known that Embiid returned from last season’s meniscus injury as soon as he could. He didn’t seem to be completely healthy then either.
Embiid’s season over pic.twitter.com/63yiOvYbM0
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 28, 2025
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However, nobody expected him to look like this. After averaging at least 30 points and 10 rebounds per game in the three prior seasons, he averaged 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in 2024-25. Even worse, he converted just 44.4 percent of his field goals and 29.9 percent of his 3s. He took a career-high 24.4 percent of his shots from 3-point range and shot from a career-high distance of 13.5 feet away from the rim not because he wanted to but because he found it more difficult to establish deep position.
What’s Next For The Process?
The overwhelming sentiment is that people just thought he would get better in time.
Obviously, that didn’t turn out to be the case. In fact, there’s a legitimate chance that his knee injury has gotten worse. As a result, he’s considering undergoing an extreme offseason procedure in an effort to return to his prior form.
Former NBA center DeMarcus Cousins has suggested that Embiid lose more weight, using Hall of Fame forward-center Tim Duncan as an example. Like Embiid, Duncan sustained myriad knee injuries, his performance declining in the process. Slimming down helped him look closer to being in his prime than near his end.
Whether Embiid will ultimately choose an operation or change in nutrition isn’t currently known. He might choose both. He could forego either option, hoping that more rest is all he needs. That being said, the decision he makes this offseason could define what the remainder of his career looks like.
The seven-time All-Star is under contract through 2029. He’ll turn 31 years old in March.
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