The Philadelphia 76ers are navigating an injury-marred season from hell. The team remains riddled with inconsistency and controversy, currently standing 12th in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid, the face of the franchise, has his own injury concerns. He is set to be re-evaluated following a sinus fracture suffered during Friday’s game against the Indiana Pacers.
The former MVP’s struggles to stay on the court have become a focal point of discussions about the Sixers’ woes. Joel Embiid missed the first 9 games of the season, recovering from knee surgery. Then, he returned for 3 games, and then missed 7 more due to recurring swelling. His latest injury prompted ESPN’s Stephen A Smith to compare Embiid’s situation to that of former Sixers guard Ben Simmons.
Let me say this in all seriousness, my brother, you’re about a tad bit away from being compared to Ben Simmons. You bring up the injuries and all that stuff, I look at the disinterest on his face, and that was before it got cracked.
Stephen A Smith said on ESPN First Take
Stephen A Smith’s comment referenced not just Embiid’s mounting injuries, but also concerns about his demeanor. He criticized Embiid’s body language and commitment, drawing a parallel to Ben Simmons. Infamously, Simmons fell out of favor with fans and management due to prolonged absences, questionable effort, and eventual disputes over his playing condition.
“Let me say this to Joel Embiid in all seriousness: You’re about a tad bit away from being compared to Ben Simmons. … You bring up the injuries and all of that stuff, I look at the disinterest on his face… the lack of enthusiasm.”
– Stephen A. Smithpic.twitter.com/s4tyDip8zV
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 17, 2024
Simmons’ downward spiral was largely attributed to mental health challenges and injuries. However, Smith argued that Joel Embiid’s situation bears some resemblance. This is particularly similar in how his recurring absences impact the team. The Sixers, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year, face uncertainty as their star center is averaging just 20.3 points in 6 games, well below his career average.
Nick Nurse provides critical Joel Embiid injury update
The 76ers’ challenges deepened over the weekend when rookie Jarred McCain was ruled out indefinitely. The rookie’s issue with a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee will keep him sidelined. As the team continues to deal with their plethora of injuries, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse offered a mixed assessment of Joel Embiid’s latest injury.
The only thing that I can compare it to, but I wasn’t here, but he certainly had those other ones that were a lot worse. It’s not nearly as severe as those two from what they tell me. So I guess that’s good because those were pretty tough, those two, and they say it’s not as bad as that.
Nick Nurse said before the Charlotte Hornets game
Nurse referenced Embiid’s tricky history with facial injuries, as the star fractured his left orbital bone in a collision with Markelle Fultz, missing 10 crucial games, including playoff matchups. Four years later, an elbow from Pascal Siakam resulted in a fractured right orbital. The incident forced Embiid to sit out the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
This time, Nurse hinted at a shorter recovery window, but concerns linger over Embiid’s conditioning and ability to return to form. He expressed optimism that Embiid’s sinus fracture would not sideline him for long. However, he did acknowledge the added difficulty it would present for the former MVP, who is still recovering from the effects of his knee surgery.
With Embiid and McCain both sidelined and a lack of consistent support from their other stars, the Sixers run the risk of falling further behind in the standings.
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