Zach Lowe has shared his pessimism about Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid’s future in the NBA.
Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, is coming off the back of yet another injury-filled season. He started the 2024-25 season late and finished it early, playing only 19 games and undergoing knee surgery in April.
He’s set to make his return after what he told ESPN was the most “important offseason” of his career, and Embiid is on track to make training camp, but Lowe doesn’t have high hopes for his upcoming season.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesZach Lowe says it’s ‘utterly implausible’ Joel Embiid goes on a playoff run ever again
He has never been to the Eastern Conference Finals, and Embiid is persistently hurt come the playoffs after a gruelling offseason, and despite battling through injuries nearly every season, he has won only four playoff series in his entire career.
After his recent injury saga, Lowe said on the Zach Lowe Show that he thinks Embiid is done challenging for NBA championships.
He said, “I’ve reached a point with Embiid where everything I read about him is making me sad.
“The player he became after he won the MVP was the player that averaged more than a point a minute, that put up 70 against the Spurs, had regular 50-point games where this is just no answer, there’s nothing he can’t do, he’s explosive with finesse and touch, and majestic.
When he’s healthy, Embiid is a scoring machine. During his MVP season, he led the NBA in scoring with 33.1 points per game and averaged 10.2 rebounds. But those days could well be behind him at the age of just 31.
Lowe continued, “It just seems now, utterly implausible that he will ever be able to get through a [playoff run] healthy. I love him, he’s come on this podcast twice, he’s absolutely unbelievable to watch, and if that proves correct, that it’s not a plausible thing.”
Paul George joins Philadelphia 76ers’ extensive injured list
Embiid’s task is made even more challenging since nobody around him can stay healthy. It was recently revealed that Embiid’s All-Star teammate, Paul George, had knee surgery following an injury sustained in an on-court workout.
That makes for six Sixers players on their injury list this offseason, which includes all three of their best players. Embiid and George are recovering from knee surgery. Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey sprained his finger in March.
Player InjuryJoel Embiid KneePaul GeorgeKnee Tyrese MaxeyFinger Andre DrummondToeJared McCainKneeKelly Oubre JrKnee
As if Embiid’s injury issues aren’t enough to keep the Sixers in contention, even in an injury-hampered Eastern Conference, George’s surgery represents a nail in the coffin to their chances if he does not return to 100% fitness.