On a recent episode of First Take, ESPN’s Shams Charania provided insight into the ongoing situation between Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers regarding his knee injury.
Charania detailed the series of medical consultations the former MVP underwent before arriving at a final treatment decision.
According to Charania, Embiid sought opinions from multiple doctors, evaluating various paths to recovery.
Ultimately, the All-Star center and the Sixers’ medical staff opted for arthroscopic surgery, believing it to be the best approach to ensure Embiid could return to the court for the 2024-25 NBA season.
However, the process leading up to that decision was not without friction.
According to Charania, there was some internal disagreement between Embiid and the organization regarding the best course of action for his knee.
“There was some tension there between Joel Embiid and that front office, from my understanding,” Charania reported.
“The team believed he needed to play at some points of the season, that he needed to get his conditioning right through playing and getting better that way. He felt like he needed surgery. He ends up getting the surgery.”
This tension stemmed from differing perspectives on how Embiid should have managed his injury.
The Sixers reportedly believed that, rather than opting for immediate surgical intervention, Embiid could have continued playing to build his conditioning and work through any lingering issues.
Conversely, Embiid felt that surgery was necessary to properly address the problem and ensure his long-term health.
As of now, the 76ers have not provided an official timeline for Embiid’s return.
According to Charania, there were alternative treatment options presented that could have sidelined Embiid for the entire 2024-25 season.
However, by selecting the arthroscopic surgery route, the expectation is that he will be able to make his return at some point during the upcoming season.
While the Sixers remain hopeful that Embiid can come back at full strength, questions linger about the relationship between the franchise and its star player.
Given his injury history and the franchise’s title aspirations, how the situation unfolds in the coming months could have significant implications for both parties moving forward.
Joel Embiid, Sixers Had Tension With Handling Of Knee Injury https://t.co/D0XedE26vR
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 4, 2025
