Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid will officially undergo surgery in the coming days.
He was officially ruled out for the rest of the season in late February.
“Following consultations with medical experts, it has been determined that Joel Embiid will undergo arthroscopic surgery next week to address his left knee,” according to a statement released by the team.
He had been dealing with a knee injury that had kept him sidelined earlier in the season.
It’s been an eventful 2024-25 season for Embiid off the court. It started with the NBA fining the Sixers $100,000 due to statements made about Embiid’s health. Embiid was also suspended for three games without pay after he shoved a columnist in the locker room during a confrontation over something the columnist wrote.
Joel Embiid’s last game of 2024-25 season
The 2022-23 MVP has not played since the 76ers’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 22. He had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes of play.
He experienced swelling after the game and had consulted with doctors to consider options about his knee.
The center averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in just 19 games this season.
What is Joel Embiid’s injury history?
In December, Embiid suffered a sinus fracture when Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin’s hand hit the 76ers’ center in the final seconds before halftime. Mathurin was collecting an offensive rebound and attempting to lay the ball back up.
Embiid has dealt with facial injuries before. He suffered a left orbital fracture in 2018 and a right orbital fracture in 2022.
He suffered a significant foot injury in 2014 that delayed his NBA debut by two full seasons. He’s dealt with knee injuries throughout his career, including a left knee injury in 2024 that derailed a potential MVP season.