Unpacking NBA Insider's Latest Update on Joel Embiid

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne offered an update on Joel Embiid this week.

The Philadelphia 76ers are facing a familiar situation heading into the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. After defeating the Brooklyn Nets in Game 3 last Thursday, the Sixers’ star center Joel Embiid was dealing with knee soreness and swelling.

After getting an MRI the following morning, Embiid was diagnosed with a sprained knee. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Embiid received a more specific diagnosis, which is a sprained LCL.

The Sixers played without Embiid in Game 4 against the Nets, which didn’t affect their plans. The goal was to win and put Brooklyn away in four games, and the Sixers accomplished their mission.

Now, the Sixers are focused on the second round. Whether they’ll have Embiid on the floor or not for the start of the second round is unclear.

Doc Rivers Puts Percentage on Joel Embiid’s Return Next Round

“Not that I don’t have confidence, I just don’t know,” Doc Rivers said when asked if Embiid would be ready for the start of the second round or not. “I would say right now, it’s probably 50 percent at best.”

Since Rivers issued his estimate, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne offered a few tidbits, explaining the latest surrounding Embiid since the last official update from Rivers and the Sixers.

Unpacking the Latest Update

• The “sense” is that recovery could be “one, maybe two weeks, depending on how he feels.”

• Embiid will be re-evaluated in the middle of this week

• A brace could be in play

• Swelling has subsided

• “You’re not gonna push it with something like that.”

.@ramonashelburne with the latest on Joel Embiid’s status from NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/3wSAYyI1t1

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) April 24, 2023

Thursday will mark exactly one week since Embiid last played. During Game 3, the big man finished the matchup, remaining on the floor until zeros were across the clock. 

The earliest the Sixers could begin their round two matchup is on Saturday, April 29. Embiid will be past the one-week mark but still have ways to go before he reaches the second.

76ers’ Second-Round Schedule Scenarios

This week will be critical in terms of getting a clearer picture of Embiid’s availability. With a mid-week re-evaluation, that will determine when Embiid can play again and whether or not he’ll have to sport a brace. 

Playing with a knee brace is nothing new to the big man, but it’s been something that’s bothered him in the past as he had to get re-adjusted with it limiting what he’s able to do.

All in all, it seems Embiid is guaranteed to return to the court in the second round, and his chances of playing in Game 1 could be higher than Rivers’ initial 50 percent guess by the middle of this week. 

Once again, the circumstances are far from ideal for Embiid, who wanted to do all that he could to make it through a playoff run healthy. Unfortunately, he’ll have to battle through another setback in 2023.