Embiid logged 13 points (2-11 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 8-8 FT), three rebounds, five assists and one block in 26 minutes during Tuesday's 111-99 loss to the Knicks.
Seeing his first action of the season after overcoming a knee injury and serving a three-game suspension, Embiid was on a minutes restriction and wasn't in peak form. It's not clear how quickly the Sixers are willing to ramp things up with their franchise player, but the 30-year-old center isn't likely to be in the lineup for the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday against the Cavaliers. His next chance to increase his workload should come Friday in Orlando, as Philly begins a brief three-game southern road trip.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Operating on minutes restriction
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Coach Nick Nurse said Embiid will be limited to 25-to-30 minutes during Tuesday's game versus the Knicks, Steve Popper of Newsday reports.
Embiid will make his season debut Tuesday after missing time with a knee injury and suspension. However, the superstar big man will be eased into Philadelphia's rotation and will play less than his average of 33.6 minutes per contest from last season out the gate. Embiid will likely also sit out Wednesday's matchup with Cleveland, as it is the second night of a back-to-back.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Not listed on injury report
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Embiid (knee/suspension) isn't listed on the injury report for Tuesday's game against the Knicks.
As expected, Embiid is set to make his season debut Tuesday. He missed the start of the campaign due to a lingering knee injury and was suspended for the past three games due to a locker-room altercation with a reporter. The 2022-23 MVP will almost certainly have a strict minutes limit during his debut, but he should still be a high-usage player when on the court, especially until Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) is cleared to return.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Returning to action after suspension
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Embiid (knee/suspension) is set to make his season debut Tuesday versus the Knicks following the conclusion of his three-game suspension, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Embiid has resumed full practices to begin November, so the ramp-up from his left knee recovery program seemingly continues to go well. Embiid will begin a three-game suspension Wednesday, but his return to action will fittingly come at home against a Knicks squad that bounced Philadelphia from the playoffs last year.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Suspension to begin Wednesday
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Embiid will begin serving his three-game suspension Wednesday versus Clippers and will end with Sunday's contest against the Hornets, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
With Embiid set to begin serving his three-game suspension for getting into an altercation with a reporter, that means that the 76ers have medically cleared the superstar center to return to action after missing the first six games of the season due to left knee soreness. Now, Embiid is set to make his season debut against the Knicks on Nov. 12. Until then, Andre Drummond should continue to start at center for Philadelphia.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Suspended three games
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Embiid (knee) was issued a three-game suspension Tuesday for shoving a columnist in a postgame locker room, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Embiid took exception with something the columnist wrote and got into an altercation with him, prompting the NBA to step in. The 2023 Most Valuable Player has yet to see the court this season while managing knee soreness. That itself was the subject of a recent investigation by the NBA, which fined the 76ers for public statements around Embiid's health status. The big man will presumably begin serving his suspension once deemed healthy and theoretically available to play. So, if the team were to clear him for Wednesday's action against the Clippers, he wouldn't be able to play in that game or the two following.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: To remain sidelined Monday
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Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Suns, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Embiid will have to wait at least one more game before making his season debut due to a left knee issue. The superstar has been able to participate fully in practice and 5-on-5 scrimmages, though the club seems to be taking its time with the 2023 MVP's recovery. Andre Drummond should continue slotting into the starting five in Embiid's absence. The NBA is also still investigating an altercation that occurred following Saturday's loss to the Grizzlies between Embiid and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes. During the altercation, Embiid appeared to shove Hayes in response to a recent column that mentioned Embiid's late brother and son, as well as Hayes' opinion that the superstar has shown a lack of professionalism and drive to stay in shape.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: NBA investigation underway
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The NBA is investigating an altercation between Embiid (knee) and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes following Saturday's 124-107 loss to the Grizzlies, ESPN.com reports.
Embiid confronted Hayes as reporters entered the locker room, and after raising his voice, Embiid appeared to shove Hayes before security stepped in. The incident stems from a recent column Hayes wrote, in which he mentions Embiid's son and late brother before questioning the MVP's professionalism and effort to stay in shape. "We take the situation very seriously and are investigating, and have already spoken to the NBA," Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in a statement. Embiid has missed the 76ers' first five games of the season with left knee injury management, but he was a full practice participant Friday and appears to be on the cusp of making his 2024-25 debut.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Fully practices, still out Saturday
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Embiid (knee) was a full participant in Friday's five-on-scrimmage but won't play in Saturday's game versus the Grizzlies, Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com reports.
Embiid has yet to play this season while dealing with a left knee injury. While the superstar center's return to practice is a good sign that he can suit up in the near future, his next chance to do so will be Monday's matchup with Phoenix. In Embiid's absence, Andre Drummond should continue to start.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: League to launch an investigation
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Embiid (knee), who has already been ruled out for Wednesday's season-opener versus Milwaukee, will remain out Friday versus Toronto and Sunday versus Indiana. His "player participation" in the 76ers' health management protocols will be investigated by the league in the coming days, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
The league's investigation will focus on the 76ers' organization as opposed to Embiid himself, but the 30-year-old big man has been the subject of the league's health and reporting guidelines in the past. Philadelphia was fined last season for failing to report his pregame status in a timely manner, and Embiid's current trajectory to never play back-to-backs the rest of his career is substantive. The overall lack of activity combined with organizational ambiguity throughout the offseason appears to be generating more friction with the league office.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Sidelined to start regular season
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Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Bucks and likely won't play Friday in Toronto, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.
The Sixers announced that Embiid continues to respond well to his individualized plan and is expected to begin ramping up for game action soon by participating in scrimmages. However, the former MVP could miss up to three games before being re-evaluated, opening up a huge opportunity for Andre Drummond.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Limited at practice
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Embiid (knee) was a limited participant at Monday's practice, Kyle Neubeck of AllPHLY.com reports.
Embiid was able to do everything but the final scrimmage, as the 76ers continue to exercise caution. This should be par for the course this season, as the franchise has made it very clear that they want to tread carefully. Embiid's status for Wednesday's game against the Bucks has yet to be determined, though Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the big man may need to participate in multiple five-on-five scrimmages to improve his conditioning and build chemistry with his teammates before getting the green light to suit up.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Will be limited in regular season
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Embiid (knee) is expected to have limitations during the 2024-25 campaign, including not playing both halves of back-to-back sets and wearing a knee brace, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.
Embiid has been ruled out for the entire preseason to focus on an individual treatment plan to prepare for the regular season. While he's expected to be ready for Opening Night against the Bucks on Oct. 23, fantasy managers should proceed with caution. Embiid has played more than 60 regular-season games only four times in his eight-year career and never made more than 68 appearances in a single season. The 76ers have 14 back-to-backs in 2024-25, so even if Embiid doesn't miss time for any other injuries, he'll fail to reach the 70-game threshold again. Plans can change, but given his current regimen, Embiid is a significant risk as a first-round fantasy selection.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Out for remainder of preseason
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Embiid (rest/knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of the preseason, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.
Following a meeting with doctors on Thursday, Embiid has been shut down from game action and will focus on an individual treatment plan to prepare for the regular season. The former MVP has yet to play during the preseason but is reportedly progressing well in his ramp-up process. The 76ers open the regular season against the Bucks on Oct. 23, so Embiid has over a week to clear the final medical hurdles before suiting up.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Uncertain to play vs. Atlanta
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Embiid (rest) is uncertain to play in Monday's preseason game against the Hawks, head coach Nick Nurse told Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. "I don't know yet. I'll let you know," when Nurse was asked Saturday about whether Embiid would join the team in Atlanta.
Embiid has yet to feature in the preseason, and given that the 76ers have been extremely cautious with their star player, it wouldn't be surprising if he's ruled out again. If Embiid remains out, Nurse will continue to take an extended look at the 76ers' frontcourt depth of Guerschon Yabusele, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Not expected to play Saturday
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Coach Nick Nurse said Saturday he plans to rest the 76ers' vets, and Embiid is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason game versus Boston, Celtics beat reporter Bobby Krivitsky reports.
Embiid didn't make the trip to play against the Timberwolves on Friday, and he is not expected to play Saturday on the road against Boston. Guerschon Yabusele will step into the starting five, and with Embiid probably out Nurse will likely take an extended look at the 76ers' frontcourt depth of Yabusele, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Not with team
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Embiid (rest) didn't make the trip for Friday's preseason contest against the Timberwolves, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports.
Embiid doesn't appear to have suffered any injury but will miss his second straight preseason contest Friday. His next chance to suit up is Saturday's preseason matchup with Boston.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Won't play Monday
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Embiid (rest) won't play in Monday's exhibition versus the New Zealand Breakers, Kyle Neubeck of AllPHLY.com reports.
Embiid and Paul George will stay in street clothes for the 76ers' preseason opener. The 2023 MVP lost 25-to-30 pounds this offseason in an effort to be healthier during the playoffs, and it'd be surprising if he plays a significant role during preseason action. Philadelphia has a back-to-back set this weekend, playing in Minnesota on Friday and in Boston on Saturday.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Focusing on playoffs
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Embiid said Monday that he lost 25-30 pounds this offseason in an effort to be healthier during the playoffs, Sam DiGiovanni of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Embiid added that there's no agenda this season other than winning during the postseason. Embiid is a seven-time All-Star and was named the 2023 NBA MVP, not to mention a laundry list of other accolades, but the big man has struggled to perform at his peak when it matters most. The emergence of Tyrese Maxey and the addition of Paul George should ease Embiid's regular-season burden, but it'll be interesting to see how the 76ers handle their star player this season. Embiid made 39 regular-season appearances last season -- his fewest since his rookie campaign -- and has never played more than 70 games in his eight-year career.
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76ers' Joel Embiid: Inks max extension with Philly
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Embiid agreed to a three-year, $192.9 million maximum contract extension with the 76ers on Friday, Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN.com reports.
The MVP center was already signed through the 2025-26 campaign and had a $59 million player option for 2026-27, but he'll decline that option and tack on the three-year extension that also includes its own player option. Embiid was limited to 39 games last season due to a meniscal flap tear after playing at least 66 contests in each of the previous two seasons, but he was as productive as ever when available as he averaged career highs in points (34.7), assists (5.6) and steals (1.2) to go along with 11.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
