The question now isn’t whether or when reigning MVP Joel Embiid will return to the Philadelphia 76ers lineup after missing 27 games due to a meniscus injury, but rather when. This information comes from ESPN source Adrian Wojnarowski.
“I’m told he’s moving well. He has looked good on the court, and again, just a matter of when he makes his return at this point, not if,” Wojnarowski said. “The Sixers expect they can get a few games under his belt before they have to start playing playoff games or play-in games.”
The latest update comes after head coach Nick Nurse said on March 16 that he was “still pretty confident” Embiid would be back in the fold before the end of the regular season. At the time, the Sixers star was participating in light on-court workouts but has since graduated to non-contact drills in practice.
Embiid had been bothered by a knee issue all season long, which finally came to a head in February when the team announced he’d undergo a procedure for a meniscus injury. Even then, the hope was that Embiid would be back in time for the Sixers’ stretch run, and as the initial timetable for return nears, he appears to be on schedule.
It’s unfair to expect Embiid to return to his old self immediately, even if that’s what the fledgling Sixers need. However, there’s also the risk of potentially bringing him back too soon, which goes doubly for a player with an extensive injury history like Embiid.
However, it appears that Embiid will make a comeback shortly. It’s still unclear what that implies for the Sixers because a lot may change in the interim. Despite being 9-16 without its star, Philly has secured a postseason position and, as of Wednesday, is currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference (39-33).
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