If Joel Embiid were healthy. That has become the biggest what-if in the NBA recently. When Embiid is on the court, he is one of the most dominant forces in the league. This is a guy who won MVP just two years ago, an All-NBA performer, and a two-time scoring champion.
Unfortunately, reality is often disappointing, and the reality is that Embiid has too many injury concerns. He has had multiple knee surgeries in the last few years, including one this past season that knocked him out for the year.
Now, Embiid is reportedly not expected to be ready for training camp and has had trouble getting on the court this offseason. This year is the first year of a $164 million extension he signed last summer.
The end is near for Joel Embiid and the Sixers
Embiid gave a vulnerable interview to ESPN last month that detailed what his body had been going through. Throughout his entire Sixers tenure, he has dealt with ailments. Even with those ailments, he wanted to do everything he could to be on the court. He would play through various injuries in the playoffs, from broken orbital bones to a torn meniscus to Bell’s palsy.
As he dealt with those ailments, the Sixers haven’t done all they could to help their franchise player. Even when he was a rookie, an intern (yes, an intern) oversaw his rehab from a foot injury. When Embiid felt that he needed another surgery, the organization brushed him off as lazy. Embiid ended up getting the second surgery because he needed it, proving that he was right about his body.
There shouldn’t be a question about Embiid’s desire to play. The question is about whether or not his body will let him. Now, there are concerns about his availability for training camp and beyond, with no timetable for his return from his latest surgery.
Embiid’s days amongst the best in the league are numbered.
Embiid said to ESPN that he plans to take his time to let his body fully heal. He also acknowledged that it is hard for him to deal with injuries and that he does know these coming years will be the last of his chapter as an elite player.
Just two years ago, he won his first MVP and was one of the most dominant players in the league. Now, we don’t know if Embiid will ever hit that same level, through no fault of his own.
It looks like Philly and Embiid are headed towards an unfulfilling end to The Process. An era that started with so much promise is headed for a crash landing. Hopefully Embiid’s body can let him find his way back to that level, but there is a dark cloud looming over the Sixers franchise once again.
