Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid is set to undergo a procedure this week in order to repair a meniscus injury in his left knee, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Embiid is expected to miss “an extended period of time” while recovering from the procedure, though a specific timeline for his return has not yet been outlined by the team.
Wojnarowski reports that the team has not yet ruled out a return for Embiid this season, though a timeline would be made more clear following his procedure.
Embiid, 29, has featured in 34 games for the 76ers this year, but has been sidelined for four of their last five outings while dealing with the injury. He last played on Jan. 30 during a road loss against the Golden State Warriors, having missed each of Philadelphia’s last two games.
He’s been enjoying an MVP-caliber season, but the meniscus procedure likely ends his chances of taking home the award this year as a result of the league’s newly-enacted 65-game requirement for major awards and All-NBA honors.
Embiid had been mulling surgery after being diagnosed with a displaced flap–a type of tear–in his left meniscus, per a report from The Athletic on Saturday.
Through 48 games, the 76ers sit in fifth in the Eastern Conference at 30-18. The team has struggled in the 14 games without Embiid in the lineup, posting a 4-10 record when he’s sidelined.
