Joel Embiid diagnosed with appendicitis, will undergo surgery Thursday afternoon in Houston
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
After being ruled out on Thursday for the 76ers’ matchup in Houston against the Rockets, Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery this afternoon in Houston.
Appendicitis is primarily caused by an obstruction or blockage in the appendix lining, which leads to infection, swelling, and inflammation, according to Mayo Clinic. Embiid reported feeling extremely sick on Thursday morning. The Sixers sent him to a doctor, and he will now have a procedure.
The Sixers said further updates will be provided as appropriate. His timetable right now is unknown. Typically, following this surgery, it is encouraged not to do anything physical for 10-14 days. Embiid would then go through a ramp-up period for a week or two. The typical recovery period is six weeks. If the progression is substantial, it could be four weeks.
Appendectomies are relatively uncommon in the NBA. The average time lost for in-season surgery is about 23 days, roughly 10.2 games, with a median of 18 days, according to Jeff Stotts of RotoWire.
The 76ers have three games remaining in the regular season: Thursday against the Rockets, Friday night in Indiana against the Pacers, and at home Sunday afternoon against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Sixers hold the eight-seed in the Eastern Conference, which is a Play-In spot against the seven-seed Charlotte Hornets. The Play-In Tournament is Tuesday, April 14, to Friday, April 17. The Sixers can finish as high as fifth or as low as 10th in the East.
Embiid missed the Sixers’ win last Wednesday over the Washington Wizards with an illness and later said he was “pissed off” that he “wasn’t allowed to play basketball.” He played in two of the next three games and was the team’s leading scorer in Monday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs, recording 34 points and 12 rebounds. In 38 games this season, Embiid is averaging 26.9 points on 48.9% shooting, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 31.6 minutes.
Embiid started the season with banged-up knees, got those straightened out, and returned to an elite form before missing 13 games with a strained oblique. Now, appendicitis.
The Sixers will continue on without Embiid for the rest of the regular season and likely the play-in. He could be out for the remainder of the season. If things really are shaken up this offseason, Monday may have been Embiid’s final game in a Sixers uniform.
Benjamin Goldstein
Benjamin has been covering Philly Sports for Philly Sports Reports since 2017. He is a podcaster, writer, and founder of Philly Sports Reports. Benjamin is also an intern at the WBCB Sports Network on 1490AM. Through Philly Sports Reports, Benjamin has gotten the opportunity to meet Phillies owner John Middleton in his suite and be honored as the Philadelphia sports fan of the week for KYW News Radio. He hopes to be reporting on Philly sports as a full-time job in the future.
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