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Joel Embiid Faces Potential Season-Ending Crisis: What’s Next?

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By: Mike

SI:AM | Joel Embiid Staring Down Possibility of Another Lost Season 
© Red94 – Joel Embiid Faces Potential Season-Ending Crisis: What’s Next?

Hello, I’m Dan Gartland. Today, I’ll be dedicating my time to catching up on all the sports developments I missed while I was abroad last week.

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The Philadelphia 76ers experienced a tough loss to the Brooklyn Nets last Saturday, with their star player, Joel Embiid, sidelined during the crucial fourth quarter. Now, they might face an even longer period without him. According to a report by ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday evening, Embiid is exploring other treatment options, including surgery, for his ailing left knee. Despite regular injections to manage pain and keep him playing, Embiid’s performance is still far from his best.

Throughout this season, Embiid has been hindered by his left knee injury, participating in just 19 of the team’s 56 games. His performance level hasn’t matched his MVP caliber from two years ago. During Saturday’s game, Sixers coach Nick Nurse opted to keep Embiid on the bench throughout the fourth quarter in favor of Guerschon Yabusele, who, along with his teammates, was performing exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it was during this period that Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton grabbed a rebound and scored a game-winning tip-in at the buzzer.

The decision to favor Yabusele, a journeyman who spent the last five years playing in Europe, over Embiid speaks volumes about the severity of Embiid’s condition this season. He’s currently averaging 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, significantly below his career average, and his shooting percentage has dropped to a career-low of .444.

Aside from Embiid’s struggles, the Sixers are dealing with numerous other injuries. Paul George is battling through groin and finger injuries, rookie Jared McCain is out for the season following knee surgery, Eric Gordon has missed recent games due to a sprained wrist, and Kyle Lowry has been limited by a hip injury.

This season is shaping up to be one of the worst for the Sixers since the so-called Process era. The last time they finished a season less than 12 games above .500 was during the 2016-17 season, Embiid’s rookie year. Since then, the team’s success has often been closely tied to Embiid’s health and performance. When he’s in top form, he transforms the Sixers into a formidable contender; when he’s not, the team struggles significantly.

With their record now at 20-36, putting them in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, it may be wise for Embiid to undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season. This would not only allow him ample time to recover but also improve the team’s draft position since they need to convey their first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder unless it falls within the top six. Currently, the Sixers have the sixth-worst record in the league.

Despite the potential benefits of shutting down Embiid for the season, it’s undeniably a disappointing situation for both him and the team. After a meniscus tear limited him to 39 games last season, the Sixers had high hopes for this year, especially with the addition of George and the continued development of Tyrese Maxey. However, injuries have limited the trio to just 15 appearances together, with a record of 7-8 in those games.

This season is essentially a lost cause for the Sixers, and Embiid’s ongoing knee issues cast doubt on the team’s ability to contend for a championship in the near future. As Embiid approaches his 31st birthday and George nears 35, time is running out for them to lead Philadelphia to a championship. The best strategy might be to rest Embiid for the remainder of the season and possibly embrace a strategic tanking approach, reminiscent of the Process era, before making another push next season.

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