Joel Embiid’s Unlucky Injury Streak Comes Before Playoff Once Again
Feb 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Whether it was breaking a mirror or walking under a ladder, whatever thing Joel Embiid did to earn this type of bad luck is just flat-out ridiculous.
Raise your hand if you’ve heard this before: Joel Embiid is injured right before the playoffs are about to begin.
For what feels like the 100th season in a row, the Philadelphia 76ers center has suffered a major injury right before the 76ers are about to start the playoffs. This time around, it’s appendicitis, and the big man will be undergoing surgery to fix the issue immediately.
Appendicitis, of all the things it could be, he has to get his appendix removed. Calling Embiid unlucky is honestly underselling it, as almost no one in the history of basketball has been this unlucky with injuries, especially right before the playoffs.
The surgery is going to put Embiid out for at least a couple of weeks, and with the 76ers currently sitting in the play-in spots in the playoffs, they may not even get a chance to extend a series to get The Process back and healthy. While other injuries could be played through, open surgery is nothing to mess with and needs time to fully recover. However, if anyone can make it back from an injury, it’s Embiid.
Whether it’s been an orbital fracture, a meniscus injury, Bell’s palsy, or another orbital fracture, Embiid has taught 76ers fans more about biology than some science teachers in the area. I sure didn’t know what the orbital bone was or where it was located before that injury from Embiid.
Now I’m not gonna sit here and say that Embiid’s injuries are all from sheer coincidence, as Embiid is to blame for some of them. While knee issues at 7’0 are common, what’s not common is many different seasons where Embiid was not healthy and taking care of his body as he should have. Multiple offseasons have come and gone, where Embiid shows up for a season, out of shape and not ready to go.
So when he finally gets into games, he’s not ready, and freak injuries are really just his lower body not being able to hold his weight. Not to mention Embiid’s play style of foul baiting, falling on the court to get calls, and using his strength to bully and put himself in tough situations in the middle of the lane.
It’s a double-edged sword for Embiid; he has to play rough and all over the floor, but by doing that, he puts himself in danger of injuries. You’re not a real 76ers fan if you haven’t braced for the worst when Embiid went down on the floor after screaming.
However, despite all of the injuries, despite all of the setbacks, despite all of the jokes about being made of glass, Embiid has been a warrior when it comes to fighting through injuries. Over the past decade, Embiid has missed just seven possible games in the postseason, despite suffering multiple injuries that would’ve ended most players’ seasons.
The claims that Embiid doesn’t care about the 76ers, his teammates, or the city of Philadelphia are the most complete bunch of nonsense I’ve ever heard. Embiid cares more than any player in this league and cares about bringing a title back to this city.
We’ve heard and seen it from Embiid himself; he leaves it all on the court and is emotional when he can’t get the job done. Just a few months ago, Embiid’s trainer came out and said that Embiid had said, “I would honestly trade this MVP just for one healthy postseason run.”
This man would trade the biggest individual accomplishment of his career for a chance to just prove that he can dominate in the playoffs and carry a team to a championship. All he wants is a chance at playing his best basketball during the most important time of the year, but unfortunately for Embiid, Lady Luck had other ideas.
Embiid is going to be a future first-ballot basketball Hall of Famer one day. He’s going to have his number retired by the 76ers and be idolized as an all-time great in the franchise’s history.
Unfortunately for Embiid, the one thing that will likely haunt him is the fact that a full season of dominance is likely never going to be possible. Whether you chalk it up to unluckiness or that Embiid does this to himself, the cards just never seem to be in the big man’s favor.
Matt Brown
Matt has been a Philadelphia sports fan all his life and spent four years at Penn State University majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Sports Studies. He previously covered Penn State’s field hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball teams while writing for a Penn State blog called Onward State. He has now covered the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers for Philly Sports Reports since October 2024 and wants to pursue a career in Sports Journalism.
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