Joel Embiid Suffers Meniscus Injury
Philadelphia 79ers center and reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid has an injured meniscus in his left knee, according to ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
An exact timetable for Embiid’s return is unclear. In the immediate, Embiid will be out throughout the weekend while a treatment plan is developed, according to NBA Insider Chirs Haynes.
Embiid’s most recent injury woes began on Jan. 15 against the Indiana Pacers when he injured his knee. The 76ers’ big man sat out the team’s back-to-back against the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers. In his return, he seemingly aggravated his injury against the Golden State Warriors.
Any injury should be massively concerning for Embiid. The big man has greatly struggled with injuries throughout his career. That famously began when he spent the first two seasons of his nursing a reoccurring foot injury. At peak health, Embiid only suited up 68 games. At 29, another serious injury is a massive problem.
Embiid’s injury massively affects the NBA as a whole. On a surface level, it essentially eliminates Embiid from the MVP race because of the NBA 65-game award rule. That leaves Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the front runners for the award.
On a more league-wide note, the long-term loss of Embiid would be catastrophic for the 76ers’ postseason aspirations. Philadelphia currently sits at 29-17 which puts them fifth in the Eastern Conference. It would be a shock to see any postseason success without Embiid.
If the 76ers’ shut down Embiid it would make sense for the team to sell off players on expiring deals. Interestingly enough, that is more than half of the roster. At the end of the year, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum Marcus Morris Sr., Robert Covington, Kelly Oubre Jr., De’Anthony Melton, Patrick Beverley, Furkan Korkmaz, Danuel House Jr., Mo Bamba, and Kenyon Martin Jr. will all be unrestricted free agents. Will other teams come calling?
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