
The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Thursday that NBA star Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis. The 76ers immediately ruled him out of the lineup and reported that he will undergo surgery in Houston.
It has been a tough blow for the 76ers, especially Embiid. The star big man has worked hard during the entire offseason to make sure his body holds up to the challenging grind of the regular season. Last year, he was limited to only 19 games due to lingering knee issues.
This season, however, the NBA star has appeared in 38 games, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
After the 76ers announced that Embiid would undergo surgery, the team shared an update on how the surgery went. According to the organization, the seven-time All-Star underwent a successful surgery. The next step for him is to recover well from it before he can be cleared to play.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 10, 2026
Philly did not announce when Embiid will make a return. Given that he underwent a procedure, he will likely miss a significant number of games.
The 76ers were hoping to have a healthy Embiid ahead of the start of the 2026 playoffs. However, they have to deal with the cards that they were dealt. Ahead of the team's game against the Houston Rockets, head coach Nick Nurse talked to the media and addressed the recent medical setback.
“This timing seems difficult. We had an unbelievable day as a team yesterday,” Nurse said. “We had a great practice, a great film session. We were getting up and down the court and he was a part of all that. So, that’s what hits you a little bit in the stomach when you get that news.
“But, it's where we are. We really have our thoughts and prayers with him that he gets through this surgery as healthy as possible, that he gets through it smooth and he has no complications."
The Athletic's Tony Jones reported that Embiid woke up with extreme stomach pain, and he had it checked out. The 76ers star was immediately informed about his medical condition, and he did not waste time agreeing to undergo surgery.
Coach Nurse added that it's on him to lead the team without Embiid. The 76ers are in a tough spot since they have to secure a playoff spot in the Play-In Tournament next week.
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