Timeline
Perhaps the best presentation for this is to list the key dates:
DATE: News Item: Narrative:
2010 Luc Mbah A Moute finds Embiid Luc Mbah A Moute discovers 16 year old Joel Embiid playing basketball in Yaounde Cameroon.
Nov 13, 2012 Joel Embiid commits to Kansas Following advise of Luc Mbah A Moute, Embiid commits to Kansas University basketball program
March 11, 2014 Joel Embiid back injury Joel Embiid’s season ended prematurely with a back injury – a stress fracture in his lower back.
April 9, 2014 Joel Embiid declares for NBA draft Joel Embiid immediately projected as 2014 NBA draft top pick.
June 21, 2014 Joel Embiid’s first foot Surgery Surgery was performed by Dr. Richard Ferkel, a leader in foot orthopedic surgery
October 14, 2014 Arthur Embiid dies in Africa Joel Embiid’s younger brother, Arthur, died in Africa. Joel, having spent four years in America pursuing his basketball career, had not visited his brother. Joel’s sister, Muriel, also younger than elder Joel, flew to America to accompany her brother on the trip back to Africa to attend the funeral.
June 13, 2015 Routine CT scan revealed regression Routine CT Scan revealed bone healing had regressed, leaving site of surgery vulnerable to re-injury. Dr. Richard Ferkel diagnosed the regression, and alerted the Philadelphia 76ers.
June 15, 2015(est) Hinkie flies w Martin Embiid Due to the nature of the news, Hinkie brought consulting Dr. Martin with Embiid to visit Dr. Ferkel.
June 29, 2015 76ers announce hire Dr. Martin Team hiring world’s leading expert in Sports Science and Medicine. First priority: Joel Embiid.
June-July 2015 76ers consult experts for advice Team sought medical advice of world’s leading experts in case. Rapid consensus that 2nd surgery needed.
July 4, 2015 Sixers determine 2nd Surgery Team summarized findings of a dozen or so of world experts and present to Joel Embiid. Joel was given opportunity to ask questions and absorb data. Joel wanted to talk with players, 76ers wanted to assemble the surgical team.
July 11, 2015 Sixers announce 2nd Embiid surgery Sixers confirm report from Keith Pompey that Joel Embiid would require second surgery, this time w/ bone graft. Projected surgery would occur within seven to ten days.
July 21, 2015 Embiid seen by TMZ with John Wall TMZ ran into Joel Embiid and John Wall, Embiid in tennis shoes. Embiid replied “playing video games”.
August 15, 2015 Sixers announce 2nd surgery sched’d Philadelphia 76ers confirm second surgery will be performed Tuesday, August 18.
August 18, 2015 Embiid 2nd Surgery Embiid second surgery performed at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery. Surgeons involved in Joel Embiid’s surgery included: Martin O’Malley, Richard Ferkel, Dufetti Fufa, Jonathan Glashow, and Christopher Dodson.
August 19, 2015 Hinkie teleconference Embiid Surgery Hinkie fielded a teleconference on August 19, 2015 to address the concerns over the situation and layout the timeline. A 6-8 month recovery period is cited.
Aug 2015-Mar 2016 Joel Embiid’s recovery period. 6-8 month recovery period begins. Three weeks of hard cast followed by three weeks of supportive cast. Team “ALL IN” on his recovery plan.
Nov 18, 2015 Zydrunas Ilgauskas visits Embiid Zydrunas Ilgauskas, an NBA veteran and survivor of a navicular bone graft surgery, begins series of visits with Joel Embiid during initial rehabilitation to the injured foot. Ilgauskas brings a player perspective of someone who had been through it all to reassure a young Joel Embiid.
Jan 3, 2016 Embiid spotted working out on court Embiid took part in agility drills after the Sixers’ shoot around at Santa Monica High School on Friday. Brown said that Embiid also worked out on the sand of a beach.
Feb. 17, 2016 Joel Embiid 1st visit Aspetar As a clinical segway from recovery to proactive rehab, Embiid visits Qatar to attend rehab boot camp at Aspetar sports clinic.
March 2, 2016 Embiid spotted shooting before game Embiid was spotted shooting before the Philadelphia 7ers faced off against the Charlotte Hornets
March 19, 2016 Embiid returns for 2nd Aspetar visit Joel Embiid returns to Aspetar Clini in Qatar, this time he is accompanied by Dr. David T. Martin and other Sixers personnel. Visit is slated for several weeks and perhaps up to a month.
#Sixers center Joel Embiid is back in Qatar for another rehab stint, according to sources. He left this week and will be there a few weeks.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) March 19, 2016
So that is where we now stand. Seems like a long time for a foot injury, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not just any ole foot injury, and it’s not just anyone, but a potentially elite NBA star.
So what is really going on here?
Next: History of the Navicular Bone