Sep 30, 2024; Camden, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) poses for a photo on media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

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Joel Embiid Injury Update: 76ers’ head coach Nick Nurse shares concerning news

Questions about Joel Embiid's availability for the preseason linger, as Coach Nurse offers remarks. Find out what he said

Sep 30, 2024; Camden, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) poses for a photo on media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

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.

Joel Embiid was not with the Sixers for Thursday’s practice ahead of Friday’s exhibition game with Minnesota at the Wells Fargo Arena. Coach Nick Nurse was asked if Embiid will join the team at any point of this road trip? They face Boston (Sat.) and ATL (Mon). pic.twitter.com/MA2S0SA1RP
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) October 10, 2024

“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.”

During the 2023-24 season, Embiid participated in only 39 regular-season games

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.

Embiid also played in the 2024 Paris Olympics

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.

Before his injury, Joel Embiid was well on his way to being the unanimous MVP and possibly the best player in the world last season.

With that being said, Embiid only played 39 games, so requirement or not, he would've have won MVP. https://t.co/l4UsFej5bc
— Jacob Moreno (@jmoreno76ers) October 9, 2024

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.

Image Credit: © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Joel Embiid

Natasha Bose

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