Image Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Joel Embiid to undergo another knee surgery? 76ers star addresses constant struggles even after missing 15 games

Joel Embiid is averaging at 24.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this season.

Image Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Joel Embiid had a remarkable triple-double return as he made his comeback after missing 15 straight games with a knee injury. As the 76ers registered a 118-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 4, Embiid finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, announcing his comeback in style.

Following the win, he was sidelined for the clash against the Heat as the management apparently wanted to keep him away from the pressure. During the 125-112 loss against the Pistons, Embiid scored 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

He was listed as questionable against the Bucks but later played and finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Embiid has been struggling with his knee since it got injured during the clash against the Golden State Warriors in Jan. 2024. He underwent surgery for a torn meniscus, but his problems have been persistent. The surgery compelled him to play only 39 games last season, and it has been the same this year as well.

The 30-year-old has played only 16 games this season and is averaging at 24.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this season. However, it seems that the Cameroonian has decided to address his issue for once and all by undergoing a knee surgery.

Earlier during the clash against the Bucks, ESPN’s Lisa Salters revealed that she got into a conversation with the 2023 MVP, who revealed that he might undergo a surgery in the summer.

Lisa said, “He just said, ‘It is what it is.’ He said to still be talking about it and dealing with it almost a full year after when the injury first occurred, he said it’s been frustrating and the most difficult thing he’s ever had to go through in his career.”

“He said that he thinks that it will likely take another surgery and a long recovery period, something he didn’t have after the initial injury last February,” Salters added.

Joel Embiid believes he will need another knee surgery this offseason.

(via @saltersl) pic.twitter.com/8V4rj9QagU
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 9, 2025

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“If it gets worse, then you’ve got to do something about it”- Joel Embiid on his knee issues

Following the 135-127 loss against the Bucks, Embiid addressed his knee concerns and said that he could undergo a surgery during the offseason.

He said, “I think the straightforward answer is that when you’ve got something that’s inconsistent, at some point, you’ve got to do something about it.”

“We don’t know what it is. We’re looking into every option.”

Embiid added that when he underwent a surgery last summer, he didn’t have enough time to recover post that. The seven-time NBA All-Star said, “At some point I probably need to just, especially when the summer comes around, these few months to just recover fully. Like I said, don’t know what it is, but if that keeps being the same pattern, then obviously you’ve got to try something else.”

“If it gets worse, then you’ve got to do something about it. If it’s not consistent enough, then that’s not good enough,” he continued.

The 76ers, currently looming on the 11th spot of the Eastern Conference standings with a 20-32 record, will be up against the Raptors on Feb. 11.

Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.