Joel Embiid is not playing in the preseason: Should the fans be worried?

The Sixers are taking good care of Joel Embiid, who has had injury issues since his time at the University of Kansas. They’ve made noteworthy changes to their lineup before the season, adding Paul George from Los Angeles to create a strong trio with Maxey and Embiid.

The team has undergone a major overhaul, bringing in new players like Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Martin, Guerschon Yabusele, and Drummond. However, the team’s top priority is Embiid’s health. The franchise has announced a new strategy to give him absolute rest during the preseason so that he can start the regular season with fewer health concerns. There is some uncertainty about his participation in the first game of the 2024/25 season, but the focus is on ensuring his long-term well-being.

Embiid not playing in the preseason

Embiid has not played in any of the Sixers’ three preseason games. In fact, the last two were consecutive, and he was not even available to the head coach. He will not be available for the three remaining ones, against Atlanta, Brooklyn and Orlando. Doctors have advised him not to still not force himself into competitive games, and the time passed without physical contact would be recommended for the knee.

The 76ers have only managed to defeat the Breakers from the Oceanic NBL, a team from New Zealand. Young players like Ousmane Dieng and Rayan Rupert have shown their potential, while veterans like Derrick Alston and Kirk Penney have also made an impact. Yabusele, a former Real Madrid player, stood out with his shooting performance. After their 139-84 loss to the Celtics at the Boston Garden, they suffered another defeat against the Timberwolves, making it two losses in total.

Is he being overprotected at the Sixers, and should the fans be worried?

Embiid is currently following medical advice to take a break to prevent his condition from worsening. He is maintaining a low profile as he continues to recover from the surgery he had on his left knee’s lateral meniscus last season. Rushing his return to the court has led to struggles, so avoiding overexertion, like what happened this week, will help in his recovery.

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Since his minor surgery in February, he has been taking extreme care due to the surgery being combined with Bell’s Palsy, the condition he suffers from. Additionally, he has had a challenging history since being chosen by the Sixers a decade ago; he missed the first year due to a stress fracture and a broken navicular bone in his right foot. Now, at 30, he must make careful efforts almost on a daily basis.

During the past summer, in Paris, he made his debut in the FIBA-organized national team tournaments in his own recognizable way: he changed his nationality a few months before the event to secure a gold medal despite facing challenges in the semi-finals and final of the tournament. Representing the United States in the Olympic Games during the summer break, he made a substantial physical effort, and he comes from 39 games played in the regular season last year, which is below the standard expected of a player of his caliber.

All these facts do not sound encouraging, and the media’s pessimism about Joel will surely continue this season.