Joel Embiid ready to start the season, but there’s a catch
News yes Philadelphia 76ers fans have been waiting to hear about the relationship Joel Embiid and his potential return from injury was revealed on Thursday. Longtime NBA insider Chris Haynes noted that Embiid is likely it’s good to go for the 76ers’ season opener next week against the Boston Celtics, but there’s a catch.
During a recent episode of NBA TV, ‘The Association,’ Haynes reported that while Embiid will likely play against the Celtics, he will be under a very tight restriction in terms of his availability.
“When he comes back, I’m told he’s going to have a busy schedule,” Haynes said. “Just because he’s back, it doesn’t mean he’s going to be an every day player. They’re going to be very careful for the rest of the season.”
In addition to being ready to play for opening night, Haynes also reported that Joel Embiid could return to the lineup from injury as early as Friday for the 76ers’ preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Embiid recently participated in the 76ers’ annual inter-squad matchupand it was speculation that he was close to returning.
Still, it makes sense that the organization would want to be as cautious as possible when managing Embiid’s workload this season. The knee problem for which he underwent surgery last spring has recurred.
Last season, Embiid was limited to just 19 games with just over 30 minutes per game. He averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 29.9 percent from the three-point line and 88.2 percent from the free throw line.
The 2022-23 NBA MVP, Embiid has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. After being selected No. 3 overall by the 76ers in the 2014 NBA Draft, he did not make his NBA debut until the 2016-17 season. He was relatively healthy from 2021 to 2023, winning the MVP award and leading the league in points.
David Iapkowitz is a basketball reporter for ClutchPoints, covering men’s and women’s NBA, WNBA and NCAA basketball news. The Los Angeles native has op-eds with Basketball Insiders, SB Nation and The Next Hoops.
2025-10-17 01:48:00
