The 76ers’ season is officially in shambles after Thursday’s 126-113 defeat pushed their losing streak to 10 games. Their record now stands at a dismal 23-54.
Injuries have completely derailed Philadelphia’s year.
Joel Embiid, the team’s superstar and former MVP, has played just 19 games before being shut down for the season in late February. Now there’s drama brewing behind the scenes.
ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped a bombshell Thursday, reporting “tension” between Embiid and the front office over his availability. The team apparently wanted him back on the court while Embiid believed surgery was necessary.
It’s just the latest chapter in what’s become a frustrating saga for Sixers fans.
Over the past two seasons, Embiid has missed a staggering 106 games while appearing in just 58. That’s a lot of time in street clothes for your franchise cornerstone.
The big man underwent knee surgery in February 2024, limiting him to 39 games last season. He seemed healthy last summer, joining Team USA for the Olympics in France and bringing home a gold medal.
But that Olympic run may have come at a steep price.
The extra basketball apparently took a serious toll on Embiid’s body, contributing to his limited availability this season.
According to Charania, the disagreement centered around different approaches to Embiid’s recovery. The team believed playing would help him get his body right, while the seven-time All-Star felt surgery was the only answer.
In the end, Embiid opted for another arthroscopic knee procedure – his second in just 14 months.
When he’s healthy, the 31-year-old center is practically unstoppable, dominating opponents night after night. The problem is keeping him on the court.
This late-season surgery creates even more uncertainty for Philadelphia. The procedure will likely impact Embiid’s availability for the start of the 2025-26 campaign, giving the front office yet another headache as they try to build a contender around their injury-prone superstar.
Can the Sixers and Embiid get on the same page? Their championship window might depend on it.
