Joel Embiid questionable for 76ers home-opener vs. Nets

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Embiid questionable for Sixers home-opener vs. Nets due to knee soreness

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 10/22/21

Ben Simmons will certainly not be taking the court for the Philadelphia 76ers during their home-opener Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets. There's a chance that the oft-injured, 2020-21 NBA MVP runner-up Joel Embiid will be out of action as well.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported late Friday morning that Embiid was practicing with his right knee heavily-wrapped, and his status for the clash against Brooklyn was up in the air.

Joel Embiid is shooting free throws with a wrap on his right knee. Embiid is questionable for tonight’s game against the Nets with right knee soreness.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) October 22, 2021

Joel Embiid has that right knee wrapped up pretty good. He is trying to shoot free throws on it after shootaround pic.twitter.com/6rn6uXvtvT
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 22, 2021

The No. 3 overall pick in 2014, Embiid didn't make his NBA debut until the 2016-2017 campaign due to multiple foot and knee injuries. In each of his first five pro seasons, the Cameroonian hasn't played in more than 64 regular season contests.

He's made four consecutive All-Star teams, has been named second-team All-Defense three times and second-team All-NBA three times as well. The Sixers have made the playoffs in each of the last four seasons, but have yet to make it past the Eastern Conference semifinals, despite being the No. 1 seed in the East last spring.

Embiid signed a four-year, $196 million supermax contract extension over the summer, securing his spot in Philly through the 2026-27 season.

In the team's season-opening road win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, the big man finished with 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting, along with six rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes of action.

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