The Philadelphia Sixers embarked on the 2024-25 season with high expectations after signing Paul George in free agency and extending Joel Embiid. However, the issues started before they played in their first regular-season game, which was a sign of what would come.
George strained his hamstring in the preseason and was sidelined for Philadelphia's season-opener, as was Embiid. He didn't play in the preseason because of what the Sixers called 'left knee injury management.' Embiid had surgery on his left knee last February, but returned at the end of the season. He played in the first round against the Knicks, although he clearly wasn't 100 percent.
Embiid made his regular-season debut on Nov. 12, but his knee issues lingered. After his knee swelled up after Philadelphia's loss to Brooklyn last Saturday, the Sixers consulted with specialists to determine the best course of action.
On Friday afternoon, Philadelphia announced Embiid would be out for the rest of the season because he is "medically unable to play."
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 28, 2025
Sixers star Joel Embiid will miss rest of the 2024-25 season
Embiid tried to play through the pain, hoping it'd eventually go away, but it never did. In the end, the only path forward was for him to miss the rest of the season.
It wouldn't have been worth it for Embiid to continue playing, as he'd risk further injury. It's not like the Sixers have a season worth fighting for. Philadelphia is No. 12 in the East, two and a half games out of Play-In Tournament range.
The best-case scenario for the Sixers, with or without Embiid, is securing a playoff berth via the Play-In. A healthy Embiid was the key to Philly making the deep playoff run fans have waited years (and years) for. Everyone thought 2025 would be the year, but it turned out to go in the opposite direction.
With Embiid out, the Sixers need to fully embrace the tank. They're actually already there — losing nine straight with their next matchup against the new-look Warriors on Saturday. There hasn't been much for Philly fans to root for this season (we're not talking about the Eagles), but it could pay off with a high draft pick. Cooper Flagg isn't out of the picture.
Hopefully, Embiid can eventually return to the player he was in 2022-23. Things are bleak right now, but there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel, right?