Should the 76ers Give Up on the Season After Their Star Center Says He Needs Surgery?
Philadelphia 76ers star big man Joel Embiid has been riddled with injuries throughout his career, and it’s continued throughout the 2024-25 season. Embiid has only played in 13 games this season and played in his third game since January 6th this past Sunday on the road in a 135-127 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Embiid put up 27 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists on seven-of-14 shooting from the field. Still, his inconsistency, along with missed time of Philly’s other stars Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, have blown up this season for the 76ers that was originally thought to be one of contending for a championship. Philadelphia is 20-32 on the season and one and a half games back of the Chicago Bulls for the final spot in the Play-In Tournament for the Eastern Conference. However, before Sunday’s game, Embiid told ESPN’s Lisa Salters that his knee might need another surgery and another long recovery might be required. This poses the question for Philadelphia if it’s worth essentially throwing this season away and keeping Embiid off the court.
“I asked Joel Embiid how that left knee feels, and he gave a really long pause and just said, ‘It is what it is,’” Salters said during the game between the Bucks and 76ers. “He said to still be talking about it and dealing with it almost a full year after the injury first occurred has been frustrating and the most difficult thing he’s ever had to go through in his career.” Embiid’s knee issues have plagued him for the last several seasons, and injuries in general have kept the former MVP off the court for extended time across the majority of his career. Earlier this season, Embiid told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, “If I had to guess, I would probably never play back-to-backs the rest of my career.” Now, we sit here today after a rocky effort to get back on the court consistently all season, and the Sixers may need to think about pulling Embiid off the court right now.
Philadelphia, currently sitting with the seventh-worst record in the NBA and one and a half games out of the last Play-In spot, is now in a position to have a serious conversation about the remainder of the 2024-25 season. The Sixers are 7-5 with Embiid, George, and Maxey all in the lineup, but that big three has played in just 12 of a possible 52 games together. George is having arguably the worst season of his career, averaging 16.6 points on 43% shooting, tallying his lowest scoring average since the 2014-15 season with the Indiana Pacers. The Sixers owe the Oklahoma City Thunder their first-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, but its top-six protected. Philly can either fight to make the Play-In Tournament with the hopes of a playoff run or essentially throw in the towel by bringing Embiid out of the lineup permanently and allowing him to begin this surgery and recovery process early.
