Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid has missed the team’s last 11 games after sustaining a left knee injury. The reigning MVP underwent surgery on the knee on February 6, and the team announced he would be reevaluated in four weeks. An Embiid return could be happening by next month.
On ESPN’s NBA Today, Adrian Wojnarowski stated that the hope from the 76ers is that Embiid will be able to return to action sometime in late March. He also mentioned that the goal would be to get him as healthy and conditioned as possible for the playoffs.
“I think there’s some hope that they can get him back on the court some time in late March.”@wojespn on Joel Embiid’s expected return. pic.twitter.com/Tk5ZrWAFJI
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 27, 2024
If he were to return a month from today (March 27), he would have missed an additional 15 games. There would be ten games remaining for Philadelphia in the regular season.
Joel Embiid Potential Return Date Revealed by Adrian Wojnarowski
Unstoppable Prior to Injury
It’s quite possible that the 29-year-old Embiid was playing better this season than his 2022-23 MVP season. In 34 games, he was averaging more points per game (35.3) than minutes (34.0). That hasn’t been done by someone who has totaled at least 1,000 points in a season since Wilt Chamberlain in 1961-62. The seven-footer was well on his way to his third-straight scoring title.
His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 34.3 leads the NBA. That would break Nikola Jokic’s single-season record of 32.8 in 2021-22.
With the NBA’s new rule of players needing to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for major awards, Embiid has no chance of repeating as MVP.
Team Has Struggled With Him Out
In the 11 games since Embiid has been sidelined, the 76ers are just 4-7. They are a miserable 7-16 in the 23 games he has missed this season. With him in the lineup, they have been one of the better teams at 26-8.
Philadelphia currently sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference at 33-24. They are 1.5 games behind the New York Knicks for fourth which would give them the home court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
The 76ers are also in danger of dropping in the standings. They are only a game ahead of the Indiana Pacers and 1.5 games ahead of the Orlando Magic who are seventh and eighth respectively in the East. A top-six seed is needed to avoid the Play-In Tournament. A Joel Embiid return may be needed for Philadelphia to not have to play in it.
Now in his eighth NBA season (all with the 76ers), Embiid is still looking for his first Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The team needs him healthy for them to have any chance of accomplishing going that far.
