The 76ers will be adjusting to life without star center Joel Embiid for the foreseeable future.
On Friday, the 76ers announced that Embiid has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. It marks the end of an injury-plagued year that saw the 30-year-old miss 37 of the team’s first 56 games. With his season officially over, 19 games is the fewest Embiid has played in a single season since missing the first two seasons of his career.
What’s next for Embiid? Here is more on his knee surgery and his lengthy road to recovery.
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What is Joel Embiid’s injury?
Embiid had been listed on the injury report for “left knee injury management” this season. The injury did not respond well to various treatments and the franchise ultimately opted for a surgical procedure.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on the situation on Sunday, Feb. 23, explaining that the Sixers and Embiid “are consulting doctors and considering alternative options, such as surgery, for his injured left knee.”
Charania added that Embiid had been receiving regular injections among other treatments to help him get on the court.
In the 76ers’ statement, the team said that the star center is “physically unable to play” and instead will focus on rehabbing his current injuries.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 28, 2025
MORE: How knee, foot and face injuries have impacted Joel Embiid’s NBA career
How long is Joel Embiid out?
Embiid will miss a significant amount of time after undergoing surgery. He will be out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season and his absence could last well into the 2025-26 season.
The time Embiid misses will depend on his response to the procedure and progress through rehab.
Joel Embiid games missed by season
Embiid was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Due to injuries, he did not make his NBA debut until the 2016-17 season, meaning he missed the first 164 games of his NBA career.
Even after missing the first two seasons of his career, Embiid has battled and played through injuries during the regular season and playoffs. Here is a look at how he’s been impacted throughout the regular season.
| Season | Age | Games played | Games missed |
| 2014-15 | 20 | 0 | 82 |
| 2015-16 | 21 | 0 | 82 |
| 2016-17 | 22 | 31 | 51 |
| 2017-18 | 23 | 63 | 19 |
| 2018-19 | 24 | 64 | 18 |
| 2019-20 | 25 | 51 | 22 |
| 2020-21 | 26 | 51 | 21 |
| 2021-22 | 27 | 68 | 14 |
| 2022-23 | 28 | 66 | 16 |
| 2023-24 | 29 | 39 | 43 |
| 2024-25 | 30 | 19 | 39 |
| Total | 452 | 407 |
Joel Embiid contract
In September 2024, Embiid signed a three-year, $192.9 million contract extension with a player option for the 2028-29 season. He is earning $51.4 million this season and will make $55.2 million during the final year of his current deal.
Embiid is owed over $248 million for the next four seasons, including the season with a player option.
All salary figures via Spotrac.
| Season | Salary | Age |
| 2024-25 | $51,415,938 | 30 |
| 2025-26 | $55,224,526 | 31 |
| 2026-27 | $59,539,200 | 32 |
| 2027-28 | $64,302,336 | 33 |
| 2028-29 | $69,065,472 (Player option) | 34 |
