Rumor: ‘Growing Concern’ 76ers’ Joel Embiid Won’t Be Ready For Training Camp

There is “growing concern” Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will not be ready for training camp, according to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. 

Embiid underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery in April. 

“Joel Embiid has struggled getting back on the court this offseason, and there is a growing concern that he will not be ready for the start of training camp, league sources told ClutchPoints,” Siegel wrote. 

Embiid played in 19 games last season. He averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 44.4% from the field, 29.9% from beyond the arc and 88.2% from the free-throw line. 

Philadelphia signed Embiid to a three-year, $192 million extension in September 2024. Embiid is owed $248.1 million over the next four seasons.

A Kansas product, Embiid has career averages of 27.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He’s made seven All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams. 

The Sixers drafted Embiid in 2014. Embiid, the 2023 MVP, missed the first two years of his career due to injuries. 

Philadelphia has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era. Embiid has played with Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. 

The Sixers had a team meeting last season in November in Miami. During the meeting, Maxey called Embiid out for being late to team events.

Someone on the Sixers leaked the meeting to the media and Embiid was furious. The big man told ESPN that he knows who the person is who leaked the details of the meeting. 

“I know who leaked it,” Embiid said. “Yeah, but I’m not going to — the past is the past. The one thing I’ll say is, it’s hard being around people that do those sorts of stuff. That goes back to the trust thing. Once you cross that — you can’t expect me to be part of a team meeting again. That’s just not going to happen. … There’s a chance they’re still around.”

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