2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid is known for being injury-prone, and that hasn’t changed in 2025.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ star big man is dealing with a knee injury that caused some problems for him during the team’s Thursday night contest against the Boston Cetlics. Embiid checked in for 27 minutes during that game, but did not perform up to his usual standards, recording just 15 points on 33% shooting. After the game, Embiid admitted that he was struggling with his knee. Still, that didn’t stop him from competing in the team’s Saturday night tilt against Brooklyn, where Embiid played 31 minutes, tallying 14 points and seven rebounds. However, he did not play for the entirety of the fourth quarter, which is shocking considering the game resulted in a two-point loss for Philadelphia.
Well, it appears that his absence was an ominous foreboding of what was to come.
Here are the latest updates on Embiid’s knee injury.
Joel Embiid injury updates
Embiid sat out during the Sixers’ most recent practice, but the team, previously listing him as questionable, has him listed as out on Monday.
According to reports, the Sixers’ anticipated plan of action for Embiid to miss a few games in order rest his knee up throughout the season, isn’t enough. The team is now consulting doctors and looking for alternative approaches.
Is surgery in Embiid’s future?
It’s likely that Embiid will have to undergo surgery at some point, but both Embiid and the Sixers seem to want to push it off as far as possible so that Embiid can play out the rest of this season. Most experts seem to agree that it would be best for Embiid’s long-term success that he has surgery done. However, that doesn’t appear to be Philadelphia’s top priority at the moment.
When do the Sixers play next?
Following the Sixers’ contest against the Bulls tonight, its next game is set for Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. Following that contest, the Sixers will have a two-game homestand through March 3 against the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers.
Embiid’s status against Chicago could play a major factor in whether or not he will participate in any of those upcoming games.