Joel Embiid willed the Philadelphia Sixers to a first-round win over the Celtics, which was impressive after they were down 3-1, but he did it less than a month after having an appendectomy. He reminded everyone that he can still be a dominant force on the offensive end, though it wasn't enough against the Knicks. There isn't much at all to feel good about after Sunday's sweep, but moving forward, there is a silver lining — Embiid's knees aren't a problem for him entering the offseason.
He suffered a torn lateral meniscus in January 2024 and returned for the playoffs, but was playing on one leg. Embiid's busy summer competing at the Olympics led to him missing the entire NBA preseason due to left knee injury management. It continued to be an issue for the rest of the season, leading Philadelphia to rule him out for the remainder of the year in February 2025 because he was "medically unable to play."
Joel Embiid says “I hate losing”
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 10, 2026
But Joel says he feels this was a successful season being able to come back. He thought he was done. He says they figured out the knee to be healthy next season pic.twitter.com/eyfvjYMsri
Yes, as mentioned, he missed time in the first round, and he even missed Game 2 against New York due to hip and ankle injuries, but nothing to do with his knees. That in itself is a win.
It would be incredibly difficult for Philadelphia to trade Embiid over the summer (if the team wanted to) because of his injury history and contract, so it's "stuck" trying to make things work with its current core. The start of next season is months away, but the Sixers need him to make it there in as good a shape as possible. He's already off to a great start by not having to worry about recovering from surgery or rehab.
Joel Embiid is feeling good about his health entering the offseason
If you're thinking right about now that the bar is awfully low, this is just the reality of the situation. Any good Embiid health news is worth celebrating, especially after what he's been through the past few years, limping his way to the finish line. All the Sixers can do is hope for the best since they essentially have no choice but to see things through with the extension they signed him to in 2024.
Philadelphia has its work cut out for it over the offseason, trying to find ways to improve the roster around the margins, but having a clear picture of where Embiid is at certainly helps. That shouldn't change the fact that the Sixers desperately need to find a suitable backup center, as it's unreasonable to expect him to stay healthy for the majority of next season. You can't go without that insurance.
Anyone and everyone who is a Sixers fan knows not to get their hopes up about Embiid, but maybe this is a good omen for the future. A restful and rejuvenating summer should go a long way for the big man, especially at 32. His body and mind have to be right for Philadelphia even to have a chance to chase what it has been since he first arrived in the city.
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