Sources: Long-Term Concerns Persist as Joel Embiid Eyes Training Camp Return
Joel Embiid is expected to be ready for training camp in September following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, but questions continue to swirl about what version of the 2023 MVP will return, and how long he can stay on the floor.
Sources with knowledge of Embiid’s situation have privately expressed concerns to FastbreakJournal.com about whether he can fully regain, and more importantly, sustain his prior level of play. One source also indicated there is internal concern about the possibility of Embiid requiring another procedure on the same knee down the line, which has only heightened unease about his long-term outlook.
Philadelphia 76ers Say Joel Embiid’s Recovery “On Track”
Team president Daryl Morey recently said that Embiid is “very engaged” in his recovery, noting that things are “on track” for him to be ready when the Sixers open training camp in early October. Philadelphia will get an early start due to its participation in the NBA’s Abu Dhabi Games, where it will face the New York Knicks in preseason action.
“All things, to use a NASA term, are nominal,” Morey said. “We expect that to continue.”
However, privately, there’s less certainty. Embiid underwent meniscus surgery on Feb. 6, 2024, after Jonathan Kuminga fell on his leg, then had arthroscopic surgery in April to address lingering issues. He initially had meniscus surgery in his left knee in 2017, the first of three procedures on that knee during his career.
Dating back to his days at Kansas, Embiid has battled a string of serious injuries, including foot fractures, torn ligaments, orbital fractures, tendinitis, and Bell’s palsy, which have significantly shortened several seasons. Since winning MVP in 2022–23, he has played in just 58 regular-season games and seven postseason/play-in contests.
Uncertain Future for a Franchise Cornerstone
Embiid has spoken candidly in the past about the mental toll of repeated injuries. In December.
“It’s kind of hard when you get in those moments where it’s kind of hard not to feel bad about yourself, especially when you know who you are and what you can accomplish, but it’s not the way it is,” Embiid said.
Despite the optimism surrounding his return timeline, some in the league, and even within his own camp, are less confident about his long-term trajectory. The 76ers are coming off a disappointing 24–58 season, in which Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey all dealt with injuries.
Philadelphia’s front office selected former Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 pick in June’s draft, adding a high-upside prospect to what could become a transition era.
Embiid, also a former No. 3 overall pick, remains one of the league’s most dominant two-way forces when healthy. He averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 19 games during his 2024-25 campaign.
