{"id":125796,"date":"2025-02-26T10:46:29","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T15:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=125796"},"modified":"2025-02-26T10:46:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T15:46:29","slug":"76ers-took-gamble-on-nbas-worst-mvp-and-are-paying-the-price","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/26\/76ers-took-gamble-on-nbas-worst-mvp-and-are-paying-the-price\/","title":{"rendered":"76ers Took Gamble On NBA’s Worst MVP And Are Paying The Price"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia 76ers\u2019<\/a> gamble on former MVP Joel Embiid<\/a> is backfiring. His lingering knee problems now threaten the franchise\u2019s future. According<\/a> to The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/em>, Embiid may need one of three radical procedures to repair his knee. The options include a meniscus replacement, low-dose radiation therapy, or an osteotomy\u2014a procedure that requires breaking a bone in the hip to realign the joint. Each procedure carries a lengthy recovery timeline. Some could sideline him for up to a year. This raises serious concerns about Embiid\u2019s availability moving forward. The 76ers medical staff discovered<\/a> swelling in his knee after he reported soreness in practice. He was immediately ruled out for upcoming games.<\/p>\n

76ers Took Gamble On NBA’s Worst MVP, Joel Embiid And Are Paying the Price<\/h2>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time Embiid has dealt with knee problems. He had surgery on February 4, 2024, after tearing his meniscus when Jonathan Kuminga<\/a> landed on his leg. Since then, his health has been a recurring issue. The star center has played only 19 out of 57 games in the 2024-25 season. His numbers\u201423.8 points on 44.4% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game\u2014are among the worst of his career.<\/p>\n

The Sixers Are Falling Apart<\/h3>\n

Without Embiid, the 76ers have collapsed. They are on an eight-game losing streak, sitting at 20-37<\/a>\u2014fourth worst in the Eastern Conference. Their record is even more painful when considering their draft situation. Their 2025 first-round pick is top-six protected, meaning they could lose it to the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This could be devastating. The 2025 draft is considered stronger than the 2024 class, where the Sixers landed Jared McCain<\/a> with the 16th pick. If they lose their first-rounder, the seemingly innocuous Al Horford<\/a> trade will haunt them.<\/p>\n

But what does all this have to do with Embiid? Everything. He is the team\u2019s leader. The Sixers extended<\/a> him for three years, $193 million<\/a> last September, keeping him under contract until 2028-29. If he opts into the player option in the final year of the deal, he will be 34 years old by then.<\/p>\n

Reports<\/a> surfaced that the Sixers were aware of his knee issues before extending him. They took a massive gamble on Joel Embiid, and it was a bad one.<\/p>\n

Embiid Is the Worst MVP in NBA History<\/h3>\n

Yes, the statement sounds extreme. But let\u2019s look at the facts. Embiid is the only MVP in NBA history who has never reached the Conference Finals. Every other MVP, except Steve Nash<\/a> and Derrick Rose<\/a>, has made at least one NBA Finals appearance.<\/p>\n

Even Nash and Rose had excuses. Nash played in the ultra-competitive Western Conference during the prime years of the Lakers, Spurs, and Mavericks. He still made four<\/a> conference finals. Rose suffered a career-altering injury before his prime.<\/p>\n

Embiid has no such excuse. He has played alongside All-Stars like Jimmy Butler<\/a>, Ben Simmons<\/a>, James Harden<\/a>, Horford, Tyrese Maxey<\/a>, and Paul George<\/a> during his prime. He has worked with championship-winning coaches like Doc Rivers and Nick Nurse. Despite all this, he has failed to deliver.<\/p>\n

Other MVPs elevate their games in the playoffs. Embiid has done the opposite. During his two scoring-title seasons, he averaged 23.6 and 23.7 points in the playoffs\u2014far below his regular-season numbers.<\/p>\n

Sixers fans would struggle to name an iconic Embiid playoff moment. If anything, his most memorable moment was sobbing after Kawhi Leonard<\/a>\u2019s buzzer-beater eliminated the Sixers in 2019. He cried because he cared, but he hasn\u2019t followed up with the necessary work.<\/p>\n