76ers’ Joel Embiid Hopes To Play Again This Season

Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid told NBA reporters he hopes to play again this season. 

Embiid underwent surgery on his left knee to address a meniscus injury. The center was diagnosed with a displaced flap of his meniscus.

“That’s the plan,” Embiid said, via ESPN. “Obviously everything has to go right, as far as getting healthy and being as close as I’m supposed to be. But yeah, that’s the plan.”

Embiid is averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks this season while shooting 53.3% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 88.3% from the free-throw line. He has 27 double-doubles and two triple-doubles in 34 games.

Embiid will not win his second straight MVP Award since he will fall short of the NBA’s 65-game minimum to earn postseason awards. According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, Embiid was dealing with left knee soreness all season.

“That’s why it was extremely disappointing because I was on a roll and I felt like I wasn’t even close to where I wanted to be, body-wise and basketball-wise because I wasn’t at my best,” Embiid said. “So I felt like there was still another level that I could go to. It was very disappointing. But I was having fun, playing, getting a lot of wins, dominating.”

Embiid signed a four-year, $213 million extension with the Sixers in August 2021. He’s making $47.6 million this season and will make $51.4 million in 2024-25. 

“My mindset is playing basketball, playing as much as I can,” Embiid said. “For two months I was not at a hundred percent, I was not even close to it. And I just felt the need of giving my all to the team and just wanting to win.”

The Sixers have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era. Embiid has career averages of 27.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.7 blocks. He’s fourth in NBA history in points per game.

The Sixers are 33-25. They are in sixth place in the East.