The Philadelphia 76ers had a strong start to the 2023-24 NBA season, appearing to be contenders for a championship. Despite past playoff disappointments, their star center Joel Embiid seemed determined to overcome these obstacles and was performing at a level that made him the frontrunner for the league’s MVP award.
However, Embiid’s ongoing knee issues have had a significant impact on his current season. Despite playing in 25 out of the team’s first 28 games and showcasing his dominance in December, scoring impressive points in multiple consecutive games, his chances of winning MVP started to dwindle when his knee problems resurfaced.
Breaking news: Joel Embiid, the reigning MVP, will undergo a procedure to address a left meniscus injury, according to a team official. It is expected that he will be out for an extended period of time. Recovery timeline to be determined.
During the period from Christmas to January 12th, Embiid missed 7 out of 9 games, and the 76ers began to experience a decline in their performance. Even after returning for 6 games, his knee issues flared up again before a game in Denver, forcing him to sit out for the 11th time this season.
A recent issue in the NBA revolves around the requirement of players participating in a minimum of 65 out of the 82 regular season games in order to be eligible for prestigious awards like MVP. This rule was implemented to discourage load management strategies.
According to sources, the 76ers are hopeful that Embiid will be sidelined for one to two months. However, if a full repair is necessary, his recovery period could be significantly longer.
With Embiid rapidly approaching the league’s Most Valuable Player award, it was crucial for him to return to action as soon as possible. He had a limited number of games he could miss and still be eligible, and time was running out. He had only 5 games left to spare, with nearly half a season remaining.
However, when he made the decision to play in front of a national audience against the Warriors last week, it became evident that something was off. He struggled throughout the game and ultimately had to be ruled out for future games due to the damage he sustained to his knee. He is scheduled to undergo surgery this week, and there is no definite timeline for his return.
Unfortunately for the 76ers, their record this season without Embiid on the court stands at 4-10. The difference is noticeable when he is absent, and it could potentially lead to a decline in their position in the standings. This decline has already begun, as both the Cavaliers and Knicks have surpassed them in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Currently, the 76ers are in 7th place after going 5-5 in their last 10 games.
On Monday night, they will be playing at home against Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks. Dončić, the star guard for the Mavericks, has been performing exceptionally well recently. As a result, the Mavericks are currently favored by 1.5 points over the 76ers, who will be without Embiid.