The Philadelphia 76ers have had a tough time lately, waiting eagerly for their star player, Joel Embiid, to make a comeback. He last played on January 30 and then had surgery on his left knee on February 6. Since then, the Sixers big man hasn’t been able to play, sitting on the bench.
Due to Embiid’s absence, the Sixers have dropped to the 8th in the conference standings. But his return can make a massive difference in the team structure.
Joel Embiid is reportedly making NBA court return this week
The Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid are actively figuring out when he will return to playing, and many believe it will happen soon. According to insiders, Embiid has reportedly participated in five practice games recently.
Last week, Nick Nurse, the head coach of the 76ers, talked positively about Embiid’s chances of returning before the regular season ends. Embiid’s return could boost the 76ers’ performance and possibly improve their position in the standings. If the 76ers can get out of the play-in tournament, it could give them more energy as the postseason nears.
The 76ers have four games scheduled this week, with seven games left in the regular season. They will face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Miami on Thursday, Memphis on Saturday, and San Antonio on Sunday.
Before taking a break, Embiid was having a fantastic season, averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 34 games.
What injury does Joel Embiid had?
Joel Embiid, who is 29 years old, recently suffered an injury during a game against the Warriors. The injury occurred when Jonathan Kuminga from the Warriors accidentally landed on Embiid’s left leg towards the end of the game, resulting in a knee injury to his lateral meniscus. An MRI was later conducted which confirmed the extent of the injury.
Due to this injury, Embiid missed the NBA All-Star Game scheduled for February 18th. This would have been his seventh appearance as a starter. Additionally, because of the new rule set by the NBA and NBA Players Association, which requires players to participate in at least 65 out of 82 regular-season games to be eligible for awards, Embiid’s chances of defending his NBA MVP award have been dashed as he has missed many games so far this season.
Before getting injured, Embiid had an outstanding season, showcasing MVP-level performance for the Sixers. Notably, on January 22nd, Embiid scored 70 points against the San Antonio Spurs, setting a new franchise record in Philadelphia’s 133-124 victory.
In the comment section below, let us know what you think of Joel Embiid’s possible comeback. We would love to hear about it.
