Joel Embiid’s ongoing knee issues raise questions about his future
At his best, Joel Embiid is simply dominant. The Sixers star routinely puts up 25-30 points and grabs 10+ rebounds when healthy, establishing himself as one of the NBA’s elite talents.
But staying on the court has become his biggest challenge.
After winning the NBA MVP award in 2022-23, Embiid has faced a brutal stretch of injuries. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in February 2024, then needed another procedure on the same knee in April 2025.
The Sixers remain “optimistic” he’ll be ready for their 2025-26 season opener, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. But there’s plenty of reason for concern.
The numbers tell a troubling story. Over the past two seasons, Embiid has started just 58 games while missing a staggering 106. His knee problems have completely derailed what should be the prime of his career.
Last season was particularly rough. The seven-time All-Star appeared in only 19 of Philadelphia’s 82 games, missing the final 39 straight to end the regular season.
“Joel’s great. I talk to him probably once or twice a week. Joel Embiid is the biggest competitor I know and it’s not even close,” teammate Tyrese Maxey recently said.
That competitive drive might actually be part of the problem. After missing 31 consecutive games during the 2023-24 season, Embiid returned just in time for the playoffs. The Sixers were eliminated in the first round by the Knicks.
Instead of resting his troublesome knee that summer, Embiid chose to join Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics. While he did bring home a gold medal, the extra wear and tear didn’t do his knee any favors.
Now 31 years old, Embiid faces serious questions about his durability. General Manager Daryl Morey claims the star center is “on track” for the beginning of training camp in early October, but Jones reports that Embiid hasn’t even returned to on-court basketball activities yet.
The next three months will be crucial for his recovery. For a player of Embiid’s caliber, simply being available isn’t enough – the Sixers need him to be the dominant force that earned him MVP honors.
Sixers fans will be holding their breath, hoping their franchise cornerstone can finally put these knee issues behind him and return to form when the new season tips off.
