Philadelphia 76ers fans will get their first glimpse of Joel Embiid post-surgery, as the MVP big man has been cleared to make his preseason debut, according to NBA Insider Chris Haynes. The 76ers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 17.
“He’s been looking good in practice,” Haynes said on NBA TV. “He’s turning the corner. It does look good for him making the season opener. I’m told he will be on a tight schedule. It doesn’t mean he’s going to be an everyday available player. They’re going to be very cautious throughout the rest of the season with him.”
Haynes went on to say he would be “very surprised” if Embiid played in any back-to-backs in the upcoming season.
Joel Embiid Injuries
In April of 2025, Embiid underwent an arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after the joint plagued his 2024-25 season and even affected his performances for Team USA the following summer in 2024. His knee, however, wasn’t the only setback last season.
While the Sixers aggressively managed the swelling in his knee to start the season, Embiid also suffered a right sinus fracture in December. In January, a left foot sprain sidelined him and more swelling in his knee once again delayed his return to the court. With his injuries, along with many other injuries up and down the roster, the 76ers struggled mightily. With a long shot to make the playoffs, the 76ers shut down Embiid in late February. Philadelphia finished with a 24-58 record, its worst record since 2016-17 when they posted a 28-54 record, which coincidentally served as Embiid’s first season logging games with the team and a marker of the end of the “Trust The Process” strategy employed by the team’s front office.
Embiid’s injury history predates last season. The first two years of his career were spent rehabbing injuries, and since that time the injuries have piled up, saddling one of the NBA’s brightest talents with a heap of games missed. Embiid has never played a full season since entering the league in 2014-15, missing nearly as many games as he’s played. To date, Embiid has played in 452 games out of nearly 900 possible games.
MVP Production When Healthy
The 31-year-old galvanizes the sport when he’s on the court. The seven-time All-Star and winner of the 2022-23 MVP holds elite career averages of 27.7 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 blocks per game, while posting 50% shooting from the field and 83% from the free throw line. He’s one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA, and has put together three seasons of scoring 30 points or more per game.
A healthy Embiid combined with a healthy 76ers could be a top team in the East. That push will be put on hold as co-star Paul George is also dealing with injuries. George is likely to miss the start of the season. Tyrese Maxey, the team’s third star, will be healthy to start the season, and other role players should give the 76ers decent depth this season. Third overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, VJ Edgecombe, has impressed in the summer and training camp, while Quentin Grimes showed some scoring ability last season. Eventually, too, the team will get Jared McCain back from a UCL injury that will slow his start to the season.
If the 76ers can get their core roster on the court together, they could make some noise this season.
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