Joel Embiid to miss time to start NBA season due to injury

Apr 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during overtime in game 5 of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

An unwelcome tune is playing once again for Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid.

Shams Charania of ESPN reports Tuesday that Embiid won’t be playing this week, including Wednesday’s season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks. Charania adds that the former NBA MVP Embiid is progressing well and ramping up to scrimmages but still is not quite ready yet.

Embiid missed most of the preseason for the 76ers with what the team called “left knee injury management.” He was limited to 39 games during the 2023-24 season after suffering a left meniscus tear in late January that required surgery. That said however, Embiid was healthy enough to play in the Paris Olympics for Team USA, averaging 11.2 points in 16.8 minutes per contest and starting at center in five of six games during Olympic play.

Now 30 years old, the often-injured Embiid recently made a staggering statement about managing his future workload. That management will apparently begin with missed games for Embiid on Wednesday against Milwaukee, Friday against Toronto, and possibly even Sunday against Detroit too. For Wednesday’s opener, the 76ers will also be without new addition Paul George, who is recovering from a knee injury of his own.