76ers Could Petition For Medical Retirement For Joel Embiid If He Isn’t Playing In February 2026

March 1, 2025

If Joel Embiid isn’t playing in February 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers could petition for a medical NBA retirement.

Embiid will miss the rest of this season after the team shut him down.

“The determination on whether Embiid suffered a career-ending injury would be made by a physician selected by the NBA and the players’ association,” per ESPN. “If that’s the case, then starting on Feb. 22, 2026 (one year from the last game Embiid played), Philadelphia could apply to the NBA to have Embiid’s salary for the years of his contract removed from its cap sheet. The Sixers would also have to waive Embiid.

“If the injury is not determined to be career-ending but is significant enough that Embiid would miss all of the 2025-26 season, then the 76ers could apply for a disabled player exception that would be worth the same as the non-taxpayer midlevel exception (since 50% of Embiid’s salary is higher than that mark).”

The Sixers signed Embiid to a three-year, $192 million extension in September 2024. Embiid is owed $248.1 million over the next four seasons.

One of the top centers in the NBA, Embiid appeared in only 19 games this season. He averaged 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.

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.”

Embiid has career averages of 27.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He’s made seven All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams.