Report: 76ers Were Surprised When Joel Embiid Told Lisa Salters He May Need Offseason Knee Surgery

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Philadelphia 76ers were surprised when Joel Embiid told Lisa Salters that he may need offseason knee surgery. 

Embiid’s left knee is nowhere near close to 100%. 

“It seems inevitable that Embiid is going to be dealing with recurring swelling in the knee for some time,” Fischer wrote. “Opting for any significant procedure, of course, could force him to miss a significant portion of next season, too. By the way: Remember the recent game in which ESPN’s Lisa Salters reported that Embiid told her he likely needs offseason surgery? It’s a disclosure that took Sixers staffers by surprise, sources said. Consider it just the latest example of a thorny dynamic for team and franchise center regarding the flow of information on his health and injury status.”

Embiid has appeared in only 19 games this season. He’s averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 44.4% from the field, 29.9% from beyond the arc and 88.2% from the free-throw line. 

The Sixers are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 20-38. If the season ended today, Philadelphia wouldn’t even be in the NBA play-in tournament. 

“We’ve been told by league sources to expect some form of resolution to Embiid’s ongoing consultation with various specialists about his balky left knee by the end of this week,” Fischer wrote. “Throughout the season, Embiid has met with more than 10 doctors, sources say, for counsel on overcoming the unrelenting discomfort and swelling in the same knee that has already been subjected to multiple meniscus surgeries.”

After the Sixers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Super Bowl Sunday, Embiid spoke about his left knee.

The big man hasn’t been healthy since January 2024. 

“No one knew it was going to be like this,” Embiid said. “After the surgery, I didn’t have enough time. I came back for the playoffs. And then after the Olympics, then right back to the regular season. So I think at some point, I probably just need to just, especially when the summer comes around, we are going to get those few months and just recover for me. As I say, I don’t know what it is. But if that keeps being the same pattern, obviously you’ve got to try something else.”