76ers’ Joel Embiid Out vs. Blazers; Nears MVP Ineligibility

Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid is set to miss the upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a knee injury. It’ll mark the fifth consecutive game the NBA’s reigning MVP will miss.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne commented on the situation, noting it’s an injury he’ll need to manage for the rest of the season — making sure to state it wasn’t his choice not to play despite initially pushing the 76ers to not list him on the injury report.

“He said, don’t even put me on the injury report,” Shelburne said of Embiid. [He said] I’m playing in this game. He went out and warmed up. … He couldn’t jump jump or the game. That’s how much discomfort [he faced].”

“He shouldn’t have played in that Indiana game,” Shelburne explained. “I think that was probably the mistake that was made here because it is important to play in Denver. He knows that and I actually think like nobody knows that more than Joel Embiid. You don’t think he hears all that? He went out to let them boo him. Like he went out in the fourth quarter and said, ‘I know what’s coming, go ahead and boo me, I know what’s happening.’ It was not even his choice. The injury management staff from the Sixers said, ‘You are not playing.'”

The expectation from Shelburne is that Philadelphia will get fined after the NBA conducts an investigation regarding why Embiid was a late scratch after being ruled available to play.

“They’re probably going to get fined, the NBA is going to investigate the late scratch,” Shelburne said. “But that was on the star player who said, ‘Don’t even put me on the report, I want to play.'”

Embiid’s injury history is a point of concern, as he missed his first two seasons due to foot problems and hasn’t played over 68 games in any season since his 2014 NBA Draft entry.

This latest injury is particularly significant given the NBA’s new rule for the 2023-24 season. It stipulates that players must participate in at least 65 games for at least 20 minutes to qualify for All-NBA team selection or major awards like the MVP. After this game, Embiid has a narrow margin and can afford to miss only five more games to remain eligible for such honors.

In the 2022-23 season, Embiid clinched the MVP award, participating in 66 games and delivering impressive averages of 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks. He continues to excel this season, averaging 36.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks across 33 games.

While Embiid’s absence challenges the 76ers’ aspirations, the team looks to Paul Reed to fill the gap in the frontcourt until Embiid’s return.