The Philadelphia 76ers’ star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with a meniscus injury. According to the team’s announcement, the timetable for Embiid’s return to action is yet to be determined.
Embiid dealt with a lingering left knee soreness issue, which caused him to miss back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers. The reigning NBA MVP returned for Wednesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, but was forced to leave the contest early after Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga fell on his ailing knee during a chase for a loose ball.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Embiid and the 76ers are yet to determine which approach they’ll take with his recovery.
Embiid’s injury will be a big blow for the 76ers, considering they are in the midst of a crowded battle to secure a home advantage for the playoffs. Philly is currently sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 30-17 record. They find themselves 6.0 games behind the leading Boston Celtics but just 1.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks at the second position.
The injury could possibly mean the end of Joel Embiid’s campaign to repeat as the NBA MVP. Embiid was considered the favorite to win the award in 2023-24, averaging a league-leading 35.3 points to go with 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks.
However, under the new CBA, the player must play at least 65 games in a season to be eligible for awards and All-NBA teams. Embiid already missed 13 games, meaning he can only miss four more to retain his eligibility.
