Questions about Joel Embiid's availability for the preseason linger, as Coach Nurse offers remarks. Find out what he said
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse shared that Joel Embiid, their star center, was absent from the team on Thursday to undergo a “scheduled” knee check-up.
“He’s not here,” Nurse mentioned, as reported by Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “He’s at a scheduled assessment of his knee. That was always on the schedule. We are still waiting for what’s next.”
Embiid had missed several months after undergoing surgery for a meniscus injury in his left knee.
Joel made a comeback just in time for the playoffs, where he averaged 33 points in 41.3 minutes per game in the 76ers’ first-round loss to the New York Knicks. In Game 1 of that series, Embiid briefly left the court after appearing to tweak the same knee but managed to return before the game ended.
Representing the U.S. men’s national team, Joel Embiid helped them secure the gold medal. Over the final two games, he scored 23 points in a combined 38 minutes, including a standout 19-point performance during Team USA’s comeback win over Serbia in the semifinals.
As for the current NBA preseason, the 2022-23 MVP is likely to miss the 76ers’ next game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, since he didn’t travel with the team.
His absence isn’t a major worry yet, as ESPN’s Tim Bontemps noted on September 30 that Philadelphia plans to ease him back into action throughout training camp.
The 76ers have a busy weekend ahead. After facing the Wolves on Friday, they’ll take on the Boston Celtics the next day. Following a day off on Sunday, they’ll meet the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. Will Embiid rejoin the team by then? Nurse didn’t give a clear answer, stating that for now, Embiid remains day-to-day.
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