CAMDEN, New Jersey – Joel Embiid and Paul George will miss an instant Game 5 with left knee injuries when the Philadelphia 76ers host Memphis on Saturday night.
The oft-injured Embiid has yet to play in games this season, although he was a complete player in Friday’s practice, including in the 5-on-5 scrimmages. George, who has yet to play in games this season due to a bruise on his a bone in his left knee, also participated in the entire practice and played with the Sixers.
Embiid skipped the entire preseason and hasn’t played any meaningful basketball since helping Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics.
During training camp in the Bahamas, Embiid discovered a small swelling in his surgically repaired left knee, assets told ESPN’s Shams Charania. As part of the plan outlined this season by the 76ers and Embiid, the swelling was detected in a routine checkup and both sides were monitoring and monitoring the knee.
Sources said Friday was the first month Embiid completed a 5-on-5 practice consultation with all of his teammates.
Embiid has prioritized returning when he is completely comfortable with his left knee, and appears to be ready for his season debut. He was limited to 39 games at the end of the season, primarily due to knee surgery, and then tore the meniscus in his left knee on January 30 against Blonde Order.
“Everyone has been on the same page,” Embiid said at the 76ers’ preview in Brandnew Jersey. “If your body doesn’t react well and if your body tells you one thing [sit out]. I have done it. From what I can tell you, I have broken my face twice, I came back early with the risk of losing my vision. I have broken fingers. Still I came back. “When I see people say, ‘He doesn’t want to play,’ I’ve done too much for this city, putting myself at risk, for people to say that.”
Embiid’s absence from the season opener created insecurity within the NBA, and the league fined the team $100,000 on Tuesday for statements by people, including president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and educator Nick Attendant, who They were inconsistent with Embiid’s words. condition and in violation of NBA regulations, such as the league’s player participation coverage. He found that, on the contrary, the participation policy was no longer violated.
Embiid used to be the Wrong One. 3 pick in the 2014 draft but missed his first two full seasons due to injuries. Since his first full season in 2016, he has played in 433 of 805 conceivable regular-season games and only 59 of 67 conceivable playoff games.
He sprained his right knee in the 2023 playoffs, costing him games against Brooklyn and Boston. He neglected two second round games in 2022 and another first round in 2021 with numerous injuries, in the control of both he forgot to start the 2018 playoffs with an orbital crack and another in 2019, also with a defect knee.
“I wish I was as lucky as everyone else,” Embiid said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not trying and I’m not doing whatever it takes to try to be there, which I will be here very soon.”
Embiid added that he no longer apologizes for playing in the Olympics. He could return for the Sixers’ three-game West Coast trip, which begins Monday against Phoenix.
“It’s really just being comfortable, trusting it,” Embiid said. “I want to be at my best. I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m scared if I do something or whatever.” [I get hurt again]. I mentioned it since my last surgery; It was probably the hardest mentally. Mentally, I’m just dealing with getting that confidence back. “Before it was just easy.”
The Associated Press data was old on this file.
