Joel Embiid, who has missed 39 games this season, will be sidelined for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-25 season due to “ongoing issues with his left knee.”
The team announced the decision on Friday.
Embiid concluded a series of tests on his knee earlier this week, with the final determination listing him medically unable to play. The 76ers say they are working with medical experts to determine an exact treatment plan.
A two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid has been hobbled by injuries all season, and served a three-game suspension for shoving a member of the media. He’s averaged 23.8 points — he averaged at least 30 and won two scoring titles the last three seasons — and scored only 29 points combined in his last two games.
One of the preseason favorites to contend for an NBA title, the Sixers take a nine-game losing streak into Saturday’s game against the Warriors. Even with the heavy slide, the Sixers were just 2 1/2 games out of a spot in the Play-In tournament entering Friday’s NBA games.
Embiid acknowledged earlier this month he may have to undergo another surgery on the left knee.
“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,” Embiid said. “We don’t know what it is. We’re looking into every option.”
The 76ers are buried in the standings, and with Joel Embiid ruled out, are likely reviewing their future options.
He played just 39 games last season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 76ers announced in early February of that season that he had undergone surgery. Embiid came back in early April, was part of the 76ers’ playoff run, and then won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team last year at the Paris Games.
Embiid said after the 76ers lost to Milwaukee on Feb. 9 that he didn’t have enough time to recover after undergoing surgery last year.
The 76ers are 8-11 with Embiid this season; 12-27 without him.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
