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[Saba Sports News] The Philadelphia 76ers continue to struggle with managing Joel Embiid’s recurring injury issues, drawing sharp criticism yet again.
On Monday, Embiid was ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a left foot sprain, marking his fifth consecutive missed game. The injury traces back to a Christmas Day win against the Boston Celtics, where Embiid initially hurt his foot. Despite the setback, the former NBA MVP played in four more games afterward, missing just one game in a back-to-back set. However, his condition has since worsened, sidelining him entirely since Jan. 4.
Fans and analysts took to social media on Monday to criticize the 76ers’ handling of Embiid’s situation. This season, Embiid has played just 13 games, also missing time due to left knee swelling. When he has been on the court, his performance has been far below his usual standards, averaging 24.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on 45/33/92 shooting splits—a stark drop from last season’s 34.7 points and 11.0 rebounds on 53/39/88 shooting.
The 76ers’ poor 15-22 record (currently 11th in the East) may be driving Embiid to push himself to play despite not being fully recovered. However, this approach appears to be backfiring, as his lingering injuries have only worsened.
While Embiid’s ongoing injury woes and bad luck are undeniable, critics argue that the 76ers need to take a more cautious approach. Continuously sending a less-than-healthy Embiid onto the court only increases the risk of further aggravating his injuries, ultimately sidelining him for longer stretches.