Philadelphia 76ers star and reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid is set to undergo surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee, as announced by the team on Sunday evening in an official statement.
The pending procedure aims to address the injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee, with further updates expected post-surgery, according to the team statement. Reportedly, the surgery is likely to keep him out of action for an extended duration, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
This development deals a significant setback to Embiid’s MVP aspirations, given the NBA‘s requirement this season for major award contenders to participate in a minimum of 65 games—a benchmark he is close to exceeding with 14 missed games already.
There remains uncertainty regarding Embiid’s return timeline and whether he will play again this season, with Wojnarowski noting that possibilities are not entirely ruled out until after the procedure. Prior to his injury, Embiid was enjoying a stellar season, leading the NBA in scoring with 35.3 points per game, along with notable contributions in rebounds, assists, and blocks.
His absence from the upcoming All-Star weekend adds another layer of complexity, leaving NBA commissioner Adam Silver responsible for selecting a replacement. Embiid’s knee issues surfaced recently, leading to his missed games against the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers. The situation escalated after sustaining further injury against the Golden State Warriors, where he left the game following contact with Jonathan Kuminga.
Sources close to the 76ers revealed to The Athletic that Embiid has been grappling with knee soreness throughout the season. The setback comes at a critical juncture for the 76ers, who currently hold the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-18 record, trailing the conference-leading Boston Celtics by 6.5 games.
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