Joel Embiid is having the best season of his career thanks in large part to his greater durability. The 76ers pivot averages 33 minutes per game this season – the second longest of his career – and has played 31 of Philadelphia’s 38 games, with many of those absences either as a precaution or due to NBA health and safety protocols. Unfortunately, however, on Friday, Embiid suffered what may have been his first serious injury of the season.
The move came in the third quarter of the Philadelphia game against the Washington Wizards. Embiid went up to bury and landed awkwardly, apparently hyperextending his left knee. He got off the ground on his own, but limped significantly. He did not return to the game. Embiid is programmed to do an MRI done on your knee, by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Embiid is currently the favorite to win the MVP award, and his 76ers occupy the No. 1 position in the Eastern Conference. Both things will suffer if Embiid needs to lose significant time, however. The 76ers have a 2-5 record in games that Embiid lost this season, a trend that has existed throughout his career. There is no set amount of games that any MVP candidate needs to play, but as LeBron James and Nikola Jokic have barely lost any, Embiid will need to return quickly if he wants to maintain his favorite status.
But most importantly, the Philadelphia championship hosts are almost entirely dependent on Embiid’s health. If he is seriously injured, their season is over functionally. This move seemed to be little more than an unlucky case, but given his injury history, any small adjustment is dangerous for Embiid.