From 2016 to 2026: How injuries repeatedly derailed Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid’s dominance

Joel Embiid, a center for the Philadelphia 76ers, was born on March 16, 1994. In the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft, he was chosen third. He has been named to the NBA All-Star squad seven times, the All-NBA squad five times, the All-Defensive Team three times, and the NBA scoring champion twice. He is a very promising player.

In 2023, he was named NBA MVP. Embiid is thirty years old and has won two scoring titles, an Olympic gold medal, and league MVP ten years after being drafted. But he is very prone to injuries. The 76ers center was at the center of another injury-related controversy before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season after he made a startling statement regarding playing back-to-backs.

A decade-long pattern: How knee and foot injuries have repeatedly sidelined Joel Embiid

According to Fox Sports, Joel Embiid had sustained over 100 injuries during his NBA career as of January 2065. His foot and knee issues, however, were the most severe, with some of them leading to injuries that ended his season.

From 2016 to 2020: How injuries shaped Joel Embiid’s first NBA years

Embiid sustained a tumble during his 30th NBA game in January 2017, aggravating his left knee. As a result, he misses Philadelphia's following three games due to swelling and soreness. Embiid played a few games that same month before returning to the sidelines due to swelling in his left knee.

It was revealed on February 11, 2017, that Embiid has a torn meniscus in his left knee, although surgery was not required. He was listed as doubtful because it resulted in knee oedema. Embiid was declared out indefinitely on February 27 due to swelling, two days later.




Embiid then suffered an orbital fracture in March 2018 during a collision with teammate Markelle Fultz, which prevented him from playing for ten games in a row. This contains the first two games of the Sixers' playoff series against the Miami Heat in the opening round. He wore a black safety mask when he got back.

During a victory over the Thunder on January 6, 2020, Embiid sustained a horrific finger injury. Embiid missed the following nine games for Philadelphia due to the injury, which necessitated surgery.

From 2021 to 2026: How repeated injuries and recovery periods defined Embiid’s prime years

In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Wizards on May 31, 2021, Embiid fell awkwardly. Afterwards, the 76ers revealed that Embiid would miss one game due to a partially torn meniscus in his right knee. When Embiid faced the Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs in April 2022, he tore a ligament in his right thumb. According to reports, the ailment would necessitate surgery during the offseason.

Then, in the fourth quarter of the 76ers' 119-107 loss to the Warriors in January 2024, Embiid was double-teamed in coverage by Golden State's Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga. Embiid collapsed to the ground as Kuminga forced the ball from his clutches. He missed 29 games due to the injury. He had surgery.




After missing the whole preseason due to "left knee injury management," Embiid was sidelined for Philadelphia's regular season start in October 2024.

Then, in November 2024, Embiid played four games in nine days before being initially sidelined for Philadelphia's next two games due to swelling in his left knee. Embiid missed a total of seven games and was sidelined for two weeks due to the swelling, which went beyond the initial prediction.

Embiid participated in four of Philadelphia's next five games until being ruled out on January 6, 2025, following reports that he sprained his foot on Christmas Day. Embiid has missed 15 games in a row after being initially categorized as day-to-day. The ailment categorization was revised to left knee injury management after initially being listed out with a sprained left foot.

Also read: NBA injury update: Joel Embiid’s status draws attention as Philadelphia 76ers gear up for crucial road trip against Chicago Bulls



Get the latest WPL 2026 updates including WPL teams, full WPL 2026 schedule, and live scores for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Delhi Capitals. Also check the latest WPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.