NBA insider shares latest update on Joel Embiid's knee injury recovery after 76ers star faces backlash for skipping games
On Friday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania shared a pretty major update on former MVP Joel Embiid. While the big man is expected to be out for Saturday's clash with the Memphis Grizzlies, he did express optimism that Embiid is almost back to 100% and ready to play.
After winning gold with Team USA this summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Embiid declared heading into this season that he wouldn't be playing in back-to-back games. In addition, he also hasn't set foot on the court for a 76ers franchise eager to make a deep playoff push this season as he continues to deal with knee pain.
With Embiid sidelined, the 76ers have gone just 1-3 to start the season, raising questions about when the Joel Embiid-Paul George duo will debut. According to Charania, the light at the end of the tunnel is rapidly approaching, with Embiid expected to be back in action sooner rather than later.
"Joel Embiid, as I've reported, he has participated in at least three-5-on-5 scrimmages with the 76ers over the last week. But today's was more monumental than any of the other prior ones, because this involved all of his teammates. And that is a big moment for Joel Embiid.
"He wants to be 100% game ready with that left knee before he takes the court. And he is almost there."
Shams Charania opens up on the origins of Joel Embiid's knee swelling during training camp
The big question for many fans over the past few weeks has been what happened to Joel Embiid between the Olympics and preseason to warrant his absence. While the NBA opened an investigation into the matter, the league concluded that Embiid is in fact injured and rightfully sidelined.
Despite that, the league did fine the 76ers organization $100,000 for comments made by Nick Nurse and President Daryl Morey regarding his status that violated the Player Participation Policy. While speaking on ESPN on Friday, Charania shed light on the origins of the swelling that has kept Embiid sidelined.
"Joel Embiid has been dealing with lingering effects from that February meniscus surgery that he had. And when he went through those workouts with the rest of the team during training camp in the Bahamas, I'm told when he got his routine checkup, they discovered some minor swelling in his left knee."
While Embiid won't be back in action on Saturday, he could be back in action on Monday when the 76ers play the Phoenix Suns, or on Wednesday when the team plays the LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome.
If he winds up missing all three of the aforementioned games, look for him to either return on Friday when the 76ers play the Lakers or next Sunday when the team returns home to play the Hornets.