How long is Joel Embiid out for? Exploring whether Sixers star could miss the season after latest injury update

Joel Embiid was already dealing with a left knee injury when Jonathan Kuminga accidentally landed on that knee on Tuesday. Embiid was diagnosed with a displaced flap in his meniscus, a kind of tear. The Philadelphia 76ers and the reigning MVP mulled their options before opting for surgery.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Embiid is set to get his left meniscus tear repaired via surgery this week. And now, Shams Charania reported that Sixers superstar could be sidelined for one to two months. If surgery is required for a full repair, the recovery time period is expected to be significantly longer.

That means Embiid will miss out on winning the MVP this season due to the new award eligibility rules imposed by the NBA. A player needs to play at least 65 games to qualify for individual awards and All-NBA selection.

So, how long will Joel Embiid be out after his procedure? Dr. Evan Jeffries, a guest injury analyst for Fox Sports, reckons Embiid will likely require four to six months of recovery. It's due to the meniscus repair that could take time to heal and more rehab to get cleared.

Jeffries also called it the best procedure for long-term results that could prolong the career of the 29-year-old injury-prone superstar. It's a tough blow for the Philadelphia 76ers if Embiid misses the remainder of the season. The Sixers are 4-10 without their best player this season.

Adrian Wojnarowski added that there's some optimism that Embiid won't miss the rest of the season and will return later to end the campaign. Wojnarowski also pointed out that there would be more clarity about Embiid's status following his surgery.

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LeBron James defends Joel Embiid amid criticism

LeBron James defends Joel Embiid (right) from critics.

Joel Embiid faced a lot of criticism when he sat out his matchup against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets last week. Embiid was a late scratch and missed his fifth straight game in Denver, where he has not played since 2019.

Many blasted Embiid for "ducking" Jokic, which possibly led to the reigning MVP suiting up against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday despite not being fully healthy. It led to another injury that will likely cost him the MVP award this season.

LeBron James defended Embiid from the media and called them out on X:

"Where are all the media outlets, TV media personalities, hot takes that talked so much 💩 about Joel Embiid about missing those games when he knew what he was dealing with."

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