The Philadelphia 76ers can’t seem to catch a break, and their nightmare season continues to get worse.
At the center of all their problems is Joel Embiid and his never-ending knee issues.
On Thursday morning, Shams Charania submitted his latest report on Embiid and it wasn’t promising.
Embiid and the 76ers are leaving all options on the table as they contemplate their next steps, and the rest of the season is “very much in question and up in the air,” Charania said, via NBACentral.
Because of Embiid’s injury and the state of the team, there is a very real chance that he won’t play another game for the rest of the season.
Joel Embiid reportedly has to regularly receive injections in his left knee just to play 😳, per @ShamsCharania
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
pic.twitter.com/XXnWn1P5Z7
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 27, 2025
Embiid’s knee has been a considerable problem for a long time, but it’s been worse than ever in 2024-25.
He has only played in 19 games, averaging 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds during that time.
He isn’t the only 76ers player who has had injury problems, of course, and that’s a huge reason why he might sit out for the rest of the year
The team is in bad shape and remains the 12th seed in the East.
While it’s possible for them to rebound and climb back into playoff contention, the chance of them winning a title this year is pretty much nonexistent.
So, the Sixers could be wise to cut their losses with Embiid this year, allow him surgery, and then plan for a better 2025-26.
It’s very clear that this knee injury is serious and could get worse if they rush Embiid back onto the court.
He hasn’t made the progress that people expected, and it’s time to truly consider benching him until the beginning of next season.
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