ESPN's rankings show how far Joel Embiid has fallen

Joel Embiid has struggled with a string of injury issues over the past two years. The former MVP looked like a shell of himself during his 19 appearances for the Philadelphia 76ers last season. At 31 years old, there's a genuine concern that Embiid will never reach the MVP level we saw from him in 2023 again. 

The latest indication of how far Embiid has fallen is ESPN's top-100 player rankings. Embiid, once seen among the top five players in the world, now sits in 47th place, one spot behind non-All-Star Jamal Murray and a spot ahead of New York Knicks swingman Mikal Bridges.

"It is almost impossible to rank Embiid after the former MVP played just 19 games last season," Tim Bontemps wrote. "If he is back and healthy, he's obviously a top-10-caliber player, as he was for several seasons prior to 2024-25. But that's a very big if, particularly after how the past 18 months or so have gone in Philly." 

Embiid's inability to stay on the court has been a source of pain for Sixers fans. Nick Nurse is yet to experience the best version of his star player, and may be wondering if he will ever get the MVP version of Embiid during his coaching tenure in Philadelphia.

Embiid may not be ready for the new NBA season

During his interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, Embiid explained how there was no timeline for a return to the court in the 2025-26 season.

“We don’t have a timeline,” Embiid told Akintoye. “Hopefully, sooner rather than later…I don’t know how they (the Sixers) feel. The only thing I’d say is — this is a business. It’s all about the results…If I come back early enough and I’m still not myself, guess what? You’re not winning any games.”

Embiid has now had two surgeries on his troublesome meniscus in the past 18 months. Philadelphia will undoubtedly want to ensure he doesn't re-aggravate the issue once he eventually returns to the rotation. However, his prolonged absence is hurting the Sixers' chances of contending for a championship, despite heavy investment from the ownership group and front office. 

Embiid has to take his time

Before Embiid returns to the floor, he must ensure he's ready to give 100 percent. There's no point rushing back to then miss large portions of the season as he did during the last campaign. 

The Sixers need Embiid for the stretch run and the playoffs. They can tread water until he's ready to return. He also can't get caught up in any arbitrary rankings. His sole focus must be on helping the franchise win at the highest level.

However, if Embiid does return and fails to stay healthy, the Sixers may need to evaluate their current roster construction. And that should include Embiid's status as an untouchable part of the core. After all, there's no point having a superstar if he never plays, and the same should be said about Paul George.