Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid underwent emergency surgery in Houston on Thursday, April 9 after being diagnosed with appendicitis.
It’s unknown how long Embiid will be out for.
Embiid has appeared in 38 games for the 76ers this season. He’s averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.
The injury bug just won’t leave Embiid alone. The seven-time All-Star played in only 19 games last season because of a left knee injury that required surgery.
The 76ers signed Embiid to a three-year, $192 million extension in September 2024. Embiid has career averages of 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. He’s made five All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams.
Philadelphia drafted Embiid in 2014 with the third overall pick. Embiid, the 2022-23 MVP, missed the first two years of his career due to injuries.
The 76ers haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era. Embiid has played with talented players such as Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George.
A Kansas product, Embiid helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in the summer of 2024. He scored a career-high 70 points against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2023-24 season.
The 76ers entered April 9 in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings. To avoid the NBA play-in tournament, Philadelphia has to be in the top six.
