“If I have to make a prediction, it’s likely I’ll never play back-to-back again in my career.”
We could suspect that this sentence from Joel Embiid would cause the NBA to react, especially since it was confirmed by its president, Daryl Morey. “We are going to be intelligent on the subject. And being smart about it means having Paul and Joel play few, if any, back-to-backs.” explained the manager of the franchise.
As the pivot did not play during the preseason and is still stuck in the infirmary, the league launched an investigation into his status. Result ? His absence does not violate the regulations against “load management” put in place since last year, and Joel Embiid is therefore considered injured in the left knee by the NBA.
On the other hand, the Sixers were still fined $100,000 for public comments by Daryl Morey and Nick Nurse on the management of Joel Embiid, who “do not correspond to the state of health” of the pivot.
For the NBA, the Philadelphia franchise cannot announce that the 2023 MVP will have to miss games in advance, while the condition of his left knee will evolve over the course of the season. In any case, the first consequence is that the Sixers should simply stop talking about it, Nick Nurse having refused all questions on the subject.
| Joel Embiid | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | PHL | 31 | 25 | 46.6 | 36.7 | 78.3 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 20.2 |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 63 | 30 | 48.3 | 30.8 | 76.9 | 2.3 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 22.9 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 64 | 34 | 48.4 | 30.0 | 80.4 | 2.5 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 27.5 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 51 | 30 | 47.7 | 33.1 | 80.7 | 2.8 | 8.9 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 23.0 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 51 | 31 | 51.3 | 37.7 | 85.9 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 28.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 68 | 34 | 49.9 | 37.1 | 81.4 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 30.6 |
| 2022-23 ★ | PHL | 66 | 35 | 54.8 | 33.0 | 85.7 | 1.7 | 8.4 | 10.2 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 33.1 |
| 2023-24 | PHL | 39 | 34 | 52.9 | 38.8 | 88.3 | 2.4 | 8.6 | 11.0 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 34.7 |
| Total | 433 | 32 | 50.4 | 34.1 | 82.6 | 2.2 | 8.9 | 11.2 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 27.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
