Joel Embiid Health, Injury Updates & History

3/23 - Remains out with a right oblique injury which has caused him to miss since March 1.

Returned to basketball activities Friday, but is without a timetable for return and expected to miss at least two more games. Embiid suffered an oblique injury on February 26th vs. the Miami Heat.

Embiid will miss at least three games with a strained right oblique, the 76ers announced Saturday. An MRI confirmed the injury after he was hurt in Thursday’s win over Miami. Embiid already sat out Sunday’s loss in Boston and will be re-evaluated following Philadelphia’s back-to-back home games Tuesday and Wednesday.

Joel Embiid enters the 25–26 season under a cloud of uncertainty, following a left knee injury that sidelined him for most of last year. Arthroscopic surgery in April marked his second procedure on that same knee within a fourteen-month stretch. There are signs to be optimistic about though. Head coach Nick Nurse has described all the medical news as “positive,” and the team has shared footage of Embiid working out without a knee brace. The key question will be how he holds up over stretches and whether he can recapture the dominance he displayed when healthy—particularly with his defensive mobility and rim protection likely to be tested the most.

Ruled out for the season in February, Embiid met with doctors to address his lingering knee injury, after weeks of tests surgery was chosen as the best option, set for re-evaluation six weeks post-op, his second knee surgery in 14 months, he's expected to recover fully but his status for the 2025-26 opener remains uncertain, playing just 19 games he averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 blocks in 30.2 minutes, his 44.4% shooting the lowest of his nine-year career

Has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to constant knee inflammation and has been deemed medically unable to play the rest of the way, he will explore various rehab and treatment options to try and be ready for next season

Has been ruled out tonight with knee inflammation, he's missed most of the season so far and has been in consultation with doctors about the possibility of exploring surgical options to address the repeated knee inflammation issues

Has been cleared to play when the NBA resumes its season after the All-Star break, Embiid will be fully available when the 76ers take on Boston in Philadelphia

The 76ers have said that Embiid's left knee has "responded well to treatment," and he was able to go through a partial practice Monday, they will continue to take a cautious approach with Embiid, who should be viewed as questionable heading into Friday's home game versus Denver

Continues to experience swelling in his surgically repaired left knee and will receive treatment before being re-evaluated in 7-to-10 days, he’s already missed the last six games and experienced another setback in the ramp-up process, his absence has opened up opportunities for Guerschon Yabusele and if the Sixers don’t make a playoff run, that could signal a more cautious approach to Embiid’s recovery