PHILADELPHIA — Following a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday, Feb. 20, Sixers‘ star Joel Embiid discussed not only the team’s performance but his own. Specifically about the limitations he continues to feel as a result of his knee injury.
Embiid played 27 minutes against Boston, sitting the entire fourth quarter and taking only nine shots on the night. Once again, despite the rest of the All-Star break, the former MVP looked nothing like his previously dominant self.
Embiid has dealt with various injuries this year. From the continued recovery of his knee to a foot sprain and a facial fracture, these injuries have caused him to play in just 18 of 55 games this season. Even in the games he has played, there is a noticeable difference, especially in games like Thursday’s matchup against Boston, in which he looks nearly unrecognizable.
“I don’t know; I’m sure you can figure it out,” Embiid said when asked about the impact of his knee injury. “[The way] I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing right now. It sucks, but I believe I probably need, you know, to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have trust when you’re not yourself.”
During a season in which the dominant message has been one of hope arguably despite reality, the honesty is refreshing, though obviously troubling. It’s clear that while Embiid is “healthy” enough to play, he is a fraction of what he was prior to his injury.
Embiid has consistently said he believes he can return to that level. However, the answer to the simple question of how is far more elusive.
On Feb. 9, as the Sixers faced the Bucks in Milwaukee, a conversation between Embiid and ESPN’s Lisa Salters was relayed across national television. In that conversation, Embiid reportedly told Salters that, in order for him to return to form, “It will likely take another surgery and a long recovery period.” Something, as Salters mentioned, he didn’t have after the initial injury last February.
Does Embiid truly need another procedure?
The only people who will truly know the answer to this are Embiid, the Sixers, and their collective team of doctors. While the team has consistently stated publically that he does not need surgery, it’s not hard to see the case against the team and thus for what Embiid has publically expressed.
Embiid underwent surgery on his left knee on Feb. 6, 2023, having a procedure to remove a portion of his meniscus, allowing for a quicker return than the alternative surgical option. After less than two months, Embiid returned to the Sixers, suiting up on April 4 as the Sixers faced the Oklahoma City Thunder.
What’s curious is that, despite Embiid’s early return, he looked like his old self for a time. Against the Pistons on April 9, Embiid looked rather dominant en route to a 37-point performance. He may not have been as explosive as in his early career, but he moved with just as much purpose and quickness as he had during his MVP season. This was the case for several games in his early return until he apparently re-aggravated the injury after the team’s game against the Orlando Magic on April 12.
Embiid would return in the second half, scoring 11 points, but on 4-10 shooting and looking far less confident as a shooter.
Embiid would sit against the Brooklyn Nets in what would be the Sixers’ final game of the season to rest him for the upcoming play-in matchup against the Miami Heat. In that game, Embiid would shoot just 6-17 from the field and, at times, looked more like a spectator than an active participant.
The Sixers’ next game, the first of seven against the New York Knicks, saw Embiid make an incredible, though completely ill-advised, highlight. Throwing a lob to himself off the glass, Embiid rose up and threw down one of the most aggressive dunks of his career over OG Anunoby. Unfortunately, all of his weight — at or around 300 pounds at the time — would come down squarely on his left knee, and he immediately fell to the ground in pain.
Since this moment, Embiid has had little if any elevation in any game he has played, whether it be against the Knicks in that series, in the summer playing for Team USA, or since his return this season for the Sixers.
Far be it from me to suggest that one or more of these plays may have contributed to complicating the recovery process, but like Embiid said and has since continued to allude to, another surgery may very well be in his future if he is to return to anything close to his past dominance.
As for what that surgery is, the complications deepen. It all truly depends on the state of Embiid’s knee, something only the medical staff involved in Embiid’s treatment would have access to. If there are signs of aggravation, that is a secondary tear or even to simply clear up damage not handled by the initial surgery.
One speculated suggestion has been a meniscal allograft transplantation or meniscus transplant. Lonzo Ball has seen some success following his meniscus transplant surgery, but that science is far too young to bet Embiid’s future on it, especially considering the difference in age and body size between Ball (then 25, weighing 190 pounds) and Embiid (soon to be 31, weighing 270 pounds).
Ball missed all of the 2023-2024 season as he continued his recovery but was capable of returning to the game shortly before his 27th birthday. If Embiid had the same surgery, he would return to the court for his age-33 season.
This of course operates under the assumption that the transplant would be successful.
Looking at how the Sixers have managed this situation so far, barring some drastic change, any and all surgery talk is likely to be reserved for the offseason. The ultimate truth is that there very likely is no magical surgery that will solve the issue. For now, Embiid’s focus is on finding a way to get better and continue to impact the game, no matter his limitations.
“I’m not as dominant as I was a couple of months ago, but that doesn’t mean I still can’t have a lot of impact on the game. Just me getting up, and just my presence, ability to track down double teams, getting guys more shots, but my dominant stuff, I get that, it’s just tough because, you know you can do so much more, but it’s just… no excuses, it’s just the way it is. Just got to keep finding ways to figure it out and get better.”
