Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, the NBA MVP, was diagnosed with a displaced meniscus flap in his left knee and is considering surgery, two sources said about his prognosis. Athletic.
According to orthopedic knee specialists, a displaced flap is considered a type of meniscal tear. Embiid, his doctors and the 76ers are still debating whether to continue to rest and rehabilitate the injury or undergo a procedure that would require him to miss an extended period of time.
76 declined to comment on the matter on Saturday.
On Thursday, the 76ers said Embiid has a meniscus injury and will be out over the weekend while his treatment program is completed. A source close to Embiid suggested a decision could be made by Monday.
Embiid suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's loss to the Golden State Warriors when the Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga fell on his left knee. Embiid missed his 13th game of the season on Thursday against the Utah Jazz.
Embiid began dealing with what he called a “bruise” and “swelling” in his left knee in early January and missed three games earlier in the month due to the injury. A six source said AthleticSam Amick said Embiid has been managing knee pain for most of the season.
In 34 games this season, Embiid is the league's scoring leader with 35.3 points per game, averaging 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.8 blocks. From Nov. 17 to Jan. 25, Embiid had 22 consecutive games of 30 points or more, the fifth-longest stretch in league history. His dominant game this year included a 70-point, 18-rebound performance in a win over the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 22.
Either way, Embiid's chances of returning as MVP are over. He's already missed 13 games this season, and under a new league rule, any player who doesn't play in at least 65 of his team's 82 regular-season games is ineligible for postseason awards. Last season, Embiid already played the fewest games in a season (66) that any MVP winner since Bill Walton hasn't been shortened by a strikeout, lockout or infection.
The 76ers, 30-17, have emerged as a contender in the Eastern Conference this season, despite the early turmoil of the James Harden situation and key injuries in Embiid and Tyrese Maxey under new head coach Nick Nurse and their two All-Stars. Players throughout the campaign.
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