Joel Embiid’s deliberate absences for the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener and their subsequent two video games has the eye of the NBA, which can most probably start an investigation this week, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Embiid, a former league Maximum Precious Participant with a historical past of accidents, ignored the preseason because of what the group described remaining week as left knee damage control “in a person remedy plan designed to very best enhance his well being and wellness for the 2024-25 season.”
The veteran heart has been dominated out Wednesday in opposition to the visiting Milwaukee Greenbacks, in addition to for Friday’s recreation at Toronto and Sunday’s recreation at Indiana.
It is standard for the NBA to study the location when a celebrity participant misses a nationally televised recreation, in step with the league’s participant participation coverage, ESPN reported.
Embiid, 30, is heading into his 9th season after he averaged 34.7 issues and 11.0 rebounds in simply 39 video games remaining season whilst present process surgical operation on his left knee for a meniscus damage. The seven-time All-Megastar returned to motion and hobbled throughout the playoffs. Then he performed for gold medal-winning Workforce USA on the Paris Olympics this summer time.
He just lately mentioned it is possible that he will by no means play in back-to-back NBA video games once more to avoid wasting put on and tear on his frame.
“If I needed to bet, I’d most certainly by no means play back-to-backs the remainder of my occupation,” Embiid informed ESPN.
Embiid additionally mentioned he dropped 25 to 30 kilos within the offseason to lend a hand take drive off the knee. He’s going to proceed to put on a brace at the left knee.
“It is the proper factor to do, and the best factor that is going to provide me the enhance for the remainder of my occupation,” Embiid informed ESPN. “For me, it is a psychological factor. I hated it. (However) I began telling myself, ‘OK, I’ve to do it, that is the simplest means they will let me play.'”
Embiid, who didn’t play for 2 seasons on account of a foot damage after he was once drafted within the first spherical in 2014 by means of Philadelphia, has averaged 27.9 issues with 11.2 rebounds in 433 video games for the Sixers. He was once MVP within the 2022-23 season.
Trainer Nick Nurse was once requested on Tuesday about Embiid’s unavailability for Wednesday.
“He is in observe, he is having a look excellent, he is progressing,” Nurse mentioned. “He isn’t moderately able but. He’s going to be able lovely quickly.”
–Box Stage Media
