The Philadelphia 76ers are facing more bad luck as their star player, Joel Embiid, may be sidelined once again. In a shocking report by The Athletic, it has been revealed that Embiid has a displaced meniscus flap in his left knee and is considering surgery. This news puts a damper on his chances of winning back-to-back MVP awards, as he can only miss three more games before becoming ineligible for the prestigious honor.
The NBA implemented a new policy to prevent players from sitting out games when they are healthy, and this policy also affects Embiid’s eligibility for an All-NBA team. Despite this controversial rule, Embiid has been leading the league in points per game and was on a historic scoring streak. The impact of his absence will be felt not only by his team but also by the entire league.
It is worth noting that Embiid has previously missed games despite being healthy, most notably when he sat out against the Denver Nuggets at Mile High. This decision raised eyebrows, as it was a place he hadn’t played in since 2019. The current rule aims to level the playing field for players who are consistently available, but it may need to be revisited in the future to prevent further injuries like Embiid’s.
The Philadelphia 76ers are undoubtedly disappointed by this turn of events. With Tyrese Maxey’s return and now Embiid’s potential surgery, the team’s hopes for success may be put on hold. Only time will tell how this setback will impact both Embiid’s career and the team’s overall performance.