Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is one of the best players in the entire NBA, with some even considering him to be the best player in the world due to his recent achievement of winning the NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Embiid doesn't have many weaknesses on the court, but one major issue that has plagued his career is getting there. He missed the initial two seasons of his NBA career due to a foot injury, and another injury setback might have cost him an MVP award.
The 7-foot center has yet to play over 68 games in a regular season, but interestingly, the postseason tells a different story. Embiid has missed only 7 out of 61 playoff games throughout his career, displaying durability when it matters.
Let's look at the injury setbacks that Joel Embiid has faced in his professional career.
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Joel Embiid's Injury History
1. Right foot injury (2014 to 2016)
Embiid's professional career had a challenging beginning when he underwent surgery just days before the 2014 NBA Draft to address a stress fracture in his right foot.
Initially projected to keep him sidelined for four to six months, the injury did not heal as anticipated. Consequently, he missed the 2014-15 season and the 2015-16 season due to complications in the healing process.
2. Torn left meniscus (2017)
Despite facing a minutes restriction, Embiid had a sensational rookie campaign in 2016-17. Unfortunately, it came to an end after just 31 games when it was revealed that he had suffered a torn left meniscus.
Despite this setback, he was still recognized for his outstanding performance and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team that season.
3. Orbital fracture (2018)
In 2018, Embiid suffered an orbital fracture following a collision with teammate Markelle Fultz, resulting in his absence from 10 consecutive games. This included the first two games of the Sixers' opening playoff round series against the Miami Heat.
When he returned, Embiid sported his distinctive black protective mask, made from a specially engineered combination of fibers and featuring custom-integrated goggles.
4. Sore left knee (2019)
Embiid missed 14 games in the final stretch of the 2018-19 regular season due to a combination of rest and a sore left knee.
5. Torn left-hand ligament (2020)
In January 2020, Embiid underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left hand, leading to his absence from the court for nine games.
6. Left knee bruise (2021)
One of the most notable injuries in his career occurred during the 2020-21 NBA season, forcing Embiid to miss a substantial portion of the year when he was a leading MVP candidate.
In the shortened season due to COVID-19, Embiid played only 51 out of 72 possible games. Ultimately, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic claimed the MVP award, with Embiid finishing as the runner-up.
7. Multiple hand injuries (2022)
After the 2021-22 NBA season, Embiid underwent multiple medical procedures to address injuries on his two hands.
Specifically, he had surgery to repair two injured fingers, addressing a torn ligament in his right thumb that had been a source of discomfort during the team's 2022 playoff run. Additionally, Embiid underwent a procedure to address an injury to his left index finger.
8. Left knee injury (TBD, 2024)
During their latest game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, January 30, Embiid got tangled up with Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who landed on his left knee.
The reigning MVP is set to undergo an MRI this week to learn the extent of the injury.
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