A meniscus injury may be the most perilous of all knee injuries because it is not treated with the same urgency as a major knee injury. The reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, recently underwent a procedure to repair a meniscus injury in his left knee. He will be reevaluated in four weeks, but given his history of ailments, the Philadelphia 76ers will likely handle their franchise cornerstone with extreme caution, just as they did in the early stages of their rebuilding process.
Lonzo Ball, the guard for the Chicago Bulls, faced a similar knee ordeal a couple of years ago when he suffered a torn meniscus. As a result, his career is now in serious jeopardy. Robert Williams, a former Boston Celtic and current Portland Trail Blazer center, also experienced meniscus troubles before the 2021 NBA playoffs. Although he returned to play during the Celtics’ playoff run and has since appeared in 41 games over two seasons, it remains uncertain how he will fare given his injury history.
Considering Williams’ experiences following his near Finals victory, it is unclear how Embiid can expect his team to provide him with a similar opportunity to compete for a championship. Williams was only a couple of wins away from achieving immortality. Another example is Brandon Roy, who already had problematic knees and tore his meniscus before the 2009-10 playoffs. He made a comeback during the postseason but found himself out of the league just three years later at the age of 28. These notable cases from the past 15 years demonstrate how careers can derail after seemingly innocuous meniscus injuries.
When sports fans hear terms like “torn ACL” or “ruptured Achilles,” they rightly react with despair. These injuries typically require a minimum of nine months for recovery, with some athletes needing even longer. However, there should be equal concern for meniscus injuries due to their mysterious nature. The severity and type of tears determine the appropriate treatment, making it difficult to establish a standard approach.
Based on a brief internet search, it appears that Embiid underwent a straightforward meniscectomy rather than meniscus repair surgery. The expected recovery time for the former procedure is four to six weeks, which aligns with the timeline provided by the 76ers. On the other hand, meniscus repair surgery requires a recovery period of three to six months. In some cases, no surgical intervention is necessary, and the recommended treatment involves rest, ice, and ibuprofen.
Considering the wide range of treatments available, a three to six-month recovery period is significant in the world of sports. If you are the Philadelphia 76ers, the only reason to rush Embiid’s return is if there is a genuine chance of winning a championship. Pride, experience, and other benefits of postseason play are insignificant compared to the ultimate goal of claiming the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, given the current state of the team, with Tyrese Maxey and a supporting cast that is inferior to teams like Boston, Milwaukee, Miami, New York, and Cleveland, it seems unlikely that the 76ers can secure a championship this year.
As a fan of the Portland Trail Blazers, I vividly remember the consequences of Brandon Roy’s premature return from his meniscus tear during the 2010 playoffs. The Phoenix Suns mercilessly double-teamed the All-Star guard, leading to a disappointing first-round exit. Roy struggled visibly and failed to meet the expectations placed upon a number one option in the playoffs, let alone a rotational player. Even Alvin Gentry, not a Hall of Fame coach, knew that the best strategy to advance to the conference semifinals was to focus on Andre Miller and force the rest of the Blazers to step up. This experience left a lasting impression on me, and I hold a grudge against Andre Miller for his inability to take advantage of the situation.
Therefore, even after Embiid’s return, his playoff experience is likely to be extremely challenging. The Sixers are currently only three-and-a-half games away from falling into the play-in tournament. If they do end up in the seventh to tenth seed over the next four weeks, they will have to face the top teams in the East in the first two rounds, and possibly in the Eastern Conference Finals as well. Dealing with an excessive number of double teams and physical play following any kind of knee procedure will be incredibly demanding, regardless of the diagnosis provided by team doctors. In my opinion, it would be wise to shut down Embiid for the remainder of the year, allow Daryl Morey to make improvements to the team around the edges, and start the 2024-25 season with a fully healthy franchise player.
I understand that this may be disappointing, but an alternative option could be to wear a Joel Embiid shir-sey as a tribute to your favorite player rather than as a show of support during this challenging time.