The Philadelphia 76ers and star center Joel Embiid are consulting doctors and looking for alternative options for his left knee injuries.
On Sunday, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that both parties are joining forces and are open to surgery as a solution.
Both Embiid and the Sixers have hoped for progress in his condition. However, his determination to play with the aid of irregular injections has not led to any improvement, per ESPN’s sources.
According to Charania’s reporter, the 30-year-old is set to undergo tests early this week and will collaborate with the Sixers and specialists on planning the best route forward.
While noting how badly he wants to play, Embiid has publicly stated that he may need surgery or an extended rest period to tend to the knee.
The meniscus tear caused Embiid to play in just 39 games last season. He underwent surgery in early February, returned in early April, joined the 76ers on their playoff run, and won a gold medal with Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are exploring options to tend to his nagging injuries
The seven-time All-Star is yet to recovery from a knee injury that he suffered last season
Earlier this month, Embiid acknowledged that he didn’t have enough time to recover from the injury.
This season, Embiid has played in just 19 of 56 games as the lingering knee injuries have been parlayed with a foot sprain.
Sources shared that Embiid is questionable for Monday’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to swelling on his knee after Saturday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
After losing the ball and hitting the court in the third quarter against Brooklyn, Embiid was slow to get up and sat out the final period with 14 points in 31 minutes. He scored 15 or fewer points in consecutive games for the first time since May 2021.
The 2022-23 NBA MVP had been an NBA All-Star for the past seven seasons before this one. He is averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, his lowest scoring mean since 2019-20 and lowest rebounding total since his rookie campaign.
Philadelphia is 20-36 and has lost their last seven outings.
