Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in a crushing injury setback.
Embiid reaggravated the injury in the Sixers’ loss to the Golden State Warriors this week, with an MRI confirming an “injured lateral meniscus in his left knee,” per NBA reporter Chris Haynes.
The star centre will be out through the weekend, with the team to provide on him “while a treatment plan is finalised,” but likely faces several weeks on the sidelines.
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Under new rules brought in by the NBA this season, Embiid, who’s already missed 12 games, will now almost certainly be eligible to win back-to-back MVP awards. The new rules require players need to play a minimum 65 games to be eligible for the major awards as well as All-NBA selection.
Philly will meanwhile now navigate a tough part of its schedule without its franchise cornerstone. Nick Nurse’s currently sits fifth in the East at 29-17, having dropped its last four-straight games.
The outright MVP favourite prior to his setbback, Embiid had been in the midst of a career-best season. He led the NBA in scoring at 35.3 points per game (shooting 53 per cent from the field and 88 per cent from the free throw line) to go with 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks.
Just last week Embiid blew up for a career-best 70 points in arguably his most dominant ever display in Philadelphia’s win over the San Antonio Spurs in his first showdown with No. 1 pick phenom Victor Wembanyama.
MORE TO COME.
