The Philadelphia 76ers introduced Sunday that seven-time All-Star middle Joel Embiid will sit out for the rest of the NBA preseason resulting from left knee damage administration.
Embiid, 30, wasn’t with the Sixers on the beginning of their three-game preseason highway journey to Iowa Friday and at Boston on Saturday. The 7-footer as a substitute met with medical doctors Thursday to verify on the standing of his left knee.
In line with ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Philadelphia’s purpose is to “put Embiid in the absolute best place to make it via the season, and to have his knee as near 100% as attainable.”
The Sixers say Joel Embiid is progressing nicely in his ramp up course of for his left knee, and can proceed to remain on a person remedy plan to organize for the upcoming common season. The group makes it official he received’t play in any preseason video games.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) October 13, 2024
Final season, Embiid solely performed in a single preseason sport. Embiid, who’s getting into his ninth season, was anticipated to stay a restricted participant for the exhibition contests in any case.
This implies Embiid is not going to play till at the least the season opener on Oct. 23 in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks in Philadelphia.
Moreover, the Kansas product performed in simply 39 video games final season after a knee damage in late January spoiled his possibilities of defending his MVP award. He dropped 25 to 30 kilos of weight getting into coaching camp.
Embiid stated he hopes to lose extra weight within the weeks forward “to take stress off his knee,” per Bontemps.
Philadelphia 76ers middle Joel Embiid scored a career-high 70 factors earlier than struggling a meniscus damage in his left knee
Within the 2023-24 season, Embiid averaged profession highs of 34.7 factors, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest whereas capturing 52.9% from the sector and profession bests of 38.8% from 3-point vary and 88.3% on the free throw line.
Moreover, in Philadelphia’s 133-123 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 22, he recorded a career-high 70 factors, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, one steal, and one block in 37 minutes of motion.
Throughout the offseason, the 76ers landed Paul George as a free agent and prolonged each Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to long-term offers. The group additionally retained free brokers Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry and signed Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, and Andre Drummond.
In September, the Sixers reached a three-year, $192.9 million contract extension with Embiid that ensures him a complete of $299.5 million via the 2028-29 season.
Embiid declined his $59 million participant choice for the 2026-27 season earlier than signing the brand new contract extension. He’ll earn $69 million within the closing 12 months of the brand new deal.
In line with Spotrac, his profession earnings will climb to $514.8 million with the brand new settlement, the fourth highest in NBA historical past behind LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and George.
In different information, George made his preseason debut Friday in Iowa, whereas all eight of these aforementioned Sixers gamers sat out Saturday’s loss in Boston on the second night time of a back-to-back.
The 76ers tackle the Hawks in Atlanta on Monday night time at 7:30 p.m. ET.
