Joel Embiid has an Injured Lateral Meniscus in Knee

Well, here we go again.

According to multiple reports, Joel Embiid has an injured lateral meniscus left knee injury, and he and the team will take through the weekend to create a recovery plan. While some reports are that the meniscus is torn, some have just said injured. Either way, Embiid will miss some significant time.

This is not the first time Embiid has suffered this injury. Embiid had this same injury in 2021, and 2022. Unfortunately, it now seems like with his size and strength, and his play style, he just puts too much stress on his knees. He has done everything right from the conditioning and dieting standpoint that everyone wanted him to get it, but it still has not fixed the issue at hand. At some point, we have to just accept the reality that we will never get a full season of healthy Joel Embiid.

It’s impossible to not feel bad for Embiid. He was having a truly historic season as he is averaging 35.3 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game, and 5.7 assists per game. He would be the first player to average these numbers since Wilt Chamberlin. He has put in all the work necessary to be a great player in the NBA and his body keeps failing him. Whether it’s the knee or getting elbowed in the face multiple times, his bad luck mixed with constant reaggravation of the same injury has to be so frustrating. Whatever we feel, it has to be exponentially worse for him.

The Sixer’s handling of Embiid over the past few games has been a disaster, and while we do not know where or when this injury happened, they may have helped cause it. Embiid has missed games all year with “knee swelling” which is a symptom of an injury, not an actual injury. Then, he was not on the injury report before the Nuggets game, and then he was held out. Reports said that he could not jump in pre-game warmups. He was then held out against the Trailblazers but played the next game against the Warriors. The reports were that he played against the Warriors because of the blowback to him missing the game in Denver. Embiid then got his knee fallen on, which may or may not have caused this injury. At the very least we can all agree it did not help his injury. If on Saturday Embiid can not jump and is held out by the medical staff that is exactly what we want them to do. But to turn around and blame the media and fans for why he played against the Warriors when he was clearly not 100% is absurd. If he can not play, he can not play, and now we may be paying for their decision.

No one will want to hear this, but how much longer can the Sixers put all their eggs in the Embiid basket? Embiid has been in the NBA since 2014, and he has yet to have a healthy playoff. The closest that we have had to that was in 2019 when they lost in 7 games to the Raptors. At a certain point, after 10 years, you have to accept the fact that he will just not stay healthy through a full season. Embiid is obviously the best Sixer we have had since Iverson, but at a certain point, you are just wasting seasons continuously counting on Embiid to be the best player on a championship team. I am not saying I would trade Embiid, and I do not think they would trade him, but it’s impossible to not have it creep into your mind.

Maybe the solution is to trade for another 1a-type player. Because of the James Harden deal the Sixers have one all-in trade left. Whether that comes next Thursday at the trade deadline, or we waste yet another season and make a trade this offseason. The Sixers will have cap space this offseason, but that doesn’t matter much for free agency because most good players do not sign in free agency anymore. I would rather the Sixers go all in on a 1a or number 2 guy who can carry the load while Embiid is out than move on from Embiid altogether. I also would rather trade for that type of guy and go all in than just make a bunch of small trades to fill out the depth because I do not trust Embiid to carry you to a championship with this, and his past injuries.