Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is out for the season due to injury

The Philadelphia 76ers announced that center Joel Embiid will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season due to a lingering left knee injury.

The 30-year-old Embiid played in only 39 games last season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee and underwent surgery in February last year. Embiid returned in April, made the playoffs with the team, and helped the United States win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year.

However, on February 9 this year, after the Philadelphia 76ers lost 127-135 to the Milwaukee Bucks, Embiid admitted that his injury was erratic and that he did not have enough time to recover after surgery, which affected his condition.

Earlier this week, Embiid completed a series of knee examinations and was ultimately deemed unfit by doctors. The Philadelphia 76ers also said they are working with medical experts to develop a specific treatment plan for Embiid.

Embiid has been plagued by injuries this season. Before it was confirmed that he was out for the season, he was suspended for three games for pushing a media member. Currently, Embiid is averaging 23.8 points per game, which is a decline from the 30-plus points per game in the past three seasons. In the last two games, Embiid only scored a total of 29 points.

However, the situation of the Philadelphia 76ers is not optimistic. At the beginning of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers were considered to be the favorites to win the championship, but now they are suffering from a nine-game losing streak. In the NBA's Eastern Conference rankings, they have won 21 games and are ranked 11th. Despite the team's sluggish state, the Philadelphia 76ers are only 2.5 wins behind the play-in zone, and theoretically still have a chance to compete for a playoff spot.