76ers’ Joel Embiid Doing Non-Contact, Walkthrough Workouts

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is doing non-contact, walkthrough workouts as he works his way back from knee surgery. 

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

“I’m told the reigning MVP did a lot of non-contact, walkthrough workouts, and he won’t be with the team on its four-game West Coast trip that starts tonight in Phoenix,” Charnaia wrote. “I noted after the initial injury that Embiid had a six- to eight-week recovery timetable at the time, which would put him back in late March to early April. The Sixers’ hope at this point is that Embiid is able to ramp up at some point in April, though an exact return date is unclear.”

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. The All-Star has 27 double-doubles and two triple-doubles in 34 games.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse told NBA reporters that he’s “pretty confident” Embiid will return before the regular season ends. 

“I think there’s always stages of how these things progress,” Nurse said, via ESPN. “Everyone wants to know, ‘Well how long is it going to be?’ And they give a wide range because of that because everyone heals differently. We’re just trying to take it as it comes, get him healthy and get him back when he’s ready to go.”

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. 

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.