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Sixers big man Joel Embiid
Before a home game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers hoped to get more clarity on the status of Joel Embiid.
The Sixers’ big man has been out of the lineup, dealing with an oblique strain. It was another issue to pile on for the 76ers.
Following the Sixers’ latest loss against the Detroit Pistons on March 12, the head coach Nick Nurse confirmed that an update was looming. As the Sixers braced for the latest on their star center, they made the early decision to rule him out on March 14 against the Nets in South Philly.
76ers Announce Joel Embiid Update Before Facing The Nets
GettyJoel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 22, 2024 in New York City.
Before Saturday’s action, Nick Nurse addressed the media with an important update regarding the star center.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Noah Levick, Embiid participated in an “on-court workout” on Friday and is “feeling better.”
Nick Nurse on Joel Embiid:
He had a good individual on-court. workout yesterday, is feeling better. Think there’s “a chance” he could return on upcoming road trip.
While the Sixers don’t have a targeted return date in mind, Nurse wouldn’t rule out the upcoming road trip as a possible chance for Embiid to return. The Sixers will face the Nuggets, Kings, and the Jazz in the coming week.
The Sixers haven’t had Embiid in the lineup since their February 26 matchup against the Miami Heat.
During his 31-minute shift against the Heat, the big man suffered a strain, which put him on a day-to-day timeline.
A road game against the Boston Celtics was Embiid’s first absence in two games. When they returned home to host the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs, the Sixers ruled out Embiid for both games.
Ahead of last Saturday’s action against the Atlanta Hawks, the Sixers re-evaluated Embiid and noted he would miss another week of action. At that point, it was clear that he was going to be out for the next four games. Over that stretch, the Sixers secured just one win against the Memphis Grizzlies.
By missing Saturday’s action against the Nets, Embiid will be out for his eighth consecutive absence. He’s played in just five out of 18 games since the start of February.
Sixers Are Spiraling
GettyJoel Embiid on the left and Tyrese Maxey on the right.
For the second year in a row, the Sixers are spiraling with many injuries hitting them at once. Joel Embiid is at the center of that once again.
While the 2025-2026 run has gone much better than his 2024-2025 campaign, which included just 19 appearances before a season-ending surgery, Embiid still has just 33 games to show for this year.
The star center is posting averages of 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He is shooting 49% from the field and hitting on 31% of his shots from three.
When he’s on the court, the Sixers are threats to just about anybody. Embiid is still one of the most dominant centers in the game when he’s available. But availability is still very much an issue.
The concerns go beyond Embiid. The star forward, Paul George, has been out since late January. Due to a suspension, he can’t return to the court until late March.
Tyrese Maxey is dealing with a finger injury, while Kelly Oubre is battling an elbow concern. Both players have been ruled out for an extended period.
Then, there’s Embiid’s backups. The rookie Johni Broome hasn’t played much, but now he can’t play at all. The second-round center underwent surgery earlier this year. Adem Bona has been dealing with back soreness, while Andre Drummond has back spasms. Both bigs missed Philly’s recent outing in Detroit.
Heading into a bout with Brooklyn, the Sixers are 35-31 on the year. They have just five wins over the past 10 games. The Charlotte Hornets (10th seed) are just 1.5 games behind the Sixers.
The Sixers have a strong shot at locking in a Play-In position at worst. But where they go from the start of postseason play and on will be up to the injury Gods. Following Saturday’s action against the Nets, the Sixers will close out a back-to-back on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Justin Grasso Justin Grasso is an NBA reporter, covering trending league news, transactions, injuries, and player developments. He is a credentialed journalist with nearly a decade of insider access. More about Justin Grasso
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