Joel Embiid straight-up admitted earlier this week that his left knee is messing with his game. And not just a little—he even hinted that surgery might be the only way to fix it. “The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing right now. It sucks,” he had said. Fast forward to Saturday night, and the Sixers were in a tight one against the Nets. With the game on the line, Keon Johnson bricked a three, but Nic Claxton swooped in tipped in the game-winner.
But where was Embiid? He spent the entire fourth quarter on the bench. Head coach Nick Nurse decided Guerschon Yabusele was the better option at center. Yeah, you read that right. And now the Sixers and Embiid are running out of options for his nagging knee injury. Now, with no real progress, the team and Embiid are turning to specialists for answers. They’re weighing their options, trying to figure out the best way forward reports Shams Charania.
Embiid has been doing everything possible to power through his knee issues—playing through pain, getting regular injections—but none of it has made a difference, per sources. With no progress, the next step is a full evaluation. He’s set to undergo tests early this week, and once those results come in, he and the team will huddle with specialists to map out the best course of action.
Feb 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts against the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Ever since the season began, fans have been critical of the former MVP. And this time was no different.
Fans think that Joel Embiid’s time in the NBA is over
“He needs to retire ” tweeted one fan. At 30, the 7x All-Star should still be in his prime, but his availability has been a constant question mark. Even during his MVP season, there were lingering worries about how sustainable his dominance was. Now, with reports that injections and treatments aren’t working, it raises a tough question: How much more can his body take?
Another user chimed in with, “Retire… or fake knee? Trade him like you should’ve 2 years ago”. Embiid is the heart of the Sixers, but his injuries have made it impossible for the team to build long-term stability. Even last season he could play 39 games because of a torn meniscus. The Sixers have been built around him for years, but they’ve never reached the Finals. At some point, the organization has to ask if keeping him is worth the gamble. Honestly a fake knee could solve their problems.
“He’s done. It’s over. ” tweeted another fan. Some fans are ready to close the book on Embiid’s career, and while that might seem dramatic, it’s not coming out of nowhere. The harsh reality is that big men with chronic knee issues don’t have the longest shelf life in the NBA. Embiid is one of the most skilled big men we’ve ever seen. But if his body keeps breaking down, the “it’s over” talk will only get louder. He’s only played in 19 games this season out of 56.
He’s done. It’s over.
— Carter G (@sweetfawn479255) February 23, 2025
Another user, a Sixers fan probably, tweeted, “Trust the process PAYS OFF!!!”. This reaction is drenched in sarcasm, and honestly, it’s hard to blame Sixers fans for feeling this way. “Trust the Process” was supposed to lead Philadelphia to sustained success, with Joel Embiid as the franchise cornerstone. But here we are, a decade later, and the only thing the Sixers have consistently “trusted” is Embiid’s availability being a question mark because he has never played more than 68 games in a season ever.
“Just retire already. Complete waste of money. ” wrote another fan. Embiid is in the third year of a four-year, $213 million supermax contract—one of the richest deals in NBA history. The Sixers committed to him as their franchise centerpiece, banking on his dominance leading them to a title. But if he can’t stay on the court, that investment starts to look like a massive gamble gone wrong.
Last season he was out for with meniscus but returned for the playoffs. But the Knicks knocked them out in the first round. They cannot rely on him when it counts. So what do you think? Should he retire? Take an entire season off and make a comeback?
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