Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is expected to return to the court Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder after successful surgery on the lateral meniscus in his left knee in early February, the team announced. He had been out since Jan. 30, when Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga inadvertently fell on his leg, just below the knee.
– Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 2, 2024
Embiid also signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Skechers to become the face of the company’s basketball division, league sources confirmed. Athleticism Tuesday. He took the field for his pregame workout to the sound of MVP chants and wore a brace on his left knee that was visible under his white tights.
The reigning NBA MVP averaged 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.8 blocks per game over 34 games before his injury. Embiid’s points and assists are both on pace to reach career highs. The 76ers went 11-18 in his absence.
Philadelphia is currently 40-35, eighth in the Eastern Conference and just 2 1/2 games behind the Indiana Pacers for the conference’s sixth seed to avoid the Play-In tournament.
What Embiid’s return means for the 76ers
Embiid’s return is obviously huge news for the 76ers. He’ll likely be at some sort of limit on Tuesday, but his return to the field, alone, should revive a team that has been shaky and choppy of late. He will have about two weeks to prepare for the playoffs.
This makes Philadelphia a tough draw if you’re a top two seed. This could completely shake up the first round. Who wants to face a healthy Embiid and the Sixers in the first round? They’re probably still headed to the Play-In tournament, but their chances of making the playoffs have improved a lot. — Mike Vorkunov, NBA and Basketball Editor
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