Ahead of his Olympic debut, 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid made headlines by saying he might have been in the GOAT conversation had injuries not derailed his career. While the GOAT discussion is a matter of personal opinion, there’s no denying the impact injuries have had on Embiid’s career.
Embiid, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, missed his first two seasons in the league due to foot injuries, which also marred his rookie season two years after the draft.
Now, 10 years after being drafted, Embiid is looking to add an Olympic gold medal to his resume of seven All-Star selections and MVP awards. Before we look ahead to what he can accomplish with Team USA in Paris, let’s take a look back at how injuries have affected his career.
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Joel Embiid injury history timeline
June 19, 2014: Days before the NBA Draft, Embiid undergoes surgery to repair a stress fracture in the navicular bone in his right foot. His recovery is expected to take four to six months.
Aug. 27, 2014: The Sixers front office expresses doubts about whether Embiid will be able to play during the 2014-15 NBA season. He ends up missing the entire 2014-15 season.
June 13, 2015: Embiid’s recovery has been delayed, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. After the 76ers confirmed the report, it was revealed that Embiid had re-fractured his scaphoid and would require another surgery.
Aug. 18, 2015: Embiid releases a hospital photo confirming successful surgery to repair his broken bone, and the 76ers announce he will miss the entire 2015-16 season while he recovers.
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Jan. 20, 2017: Playing in just his 30th NBA game, Embiid took a fall and injured his left knee, forcing him to miss Philadelphia’s next three games due to swelling and pain.
Jan. 27, 2017: Embiid scored 32 points in 28 minutes in a loss to the Rockets that turned out to be the final game of his rookie season, but he returned to the sideline with a swollen left knee.
Feb. 11, 2017: Embiid is listed as day-to-day by the 76ers after the swelling in his knee is reportedly due to a “mild” torn meniscus.
March 1, 2017: Mbido will miss the remainder of the 2016-17 season after an MRI revealed a torn meniscus that “appeared more significant.” Mbido finished his rookie season after playing in just 31 games.
March 28, 2018: Collision with teammate Markelle Fultz As a result, Embiid suffered a fractured left orbital bone and a concussion.
The injury will require surgery and Embiid will be in the league’s concussion protocol, missing the final eight games of the regular season and the first two games of the 2018 NBA playoffs.
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Jan. 6, 2020: Embiid suffers a severe finger injury against the Thunder. The injury will require surgery and will keep Embiid out of Philadelphia’s next nine games.
May 31, 2021: Embiid takes an awkward fall during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Wizards. The 76ers later announced that Embiid has a partially torn meniscus in his right knee and will miss one game.
Nov. 8, 2021: Embiid is subject to the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols and will miss nine games.
“I honestly didn’t think I could do it,” Embiid said upon returning to the game, and detailed how the virus has affected him.
April 20, 2022: Embiid tears ligaments in his right thumb during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Raptors and will reportedly require offseason surgery.
He still makes the important three-point shots in the game.
🗣️ The Sixers win Game 3. pic.twitter.com/1IcPit6yh0
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 21, 2022
April 28, 2022: Embiid suffered a mild concussion and a fractured right orbital bone after being hit by an elbow from Raptors forward Pascal Siakam in Philadelphia’s series-clinching Game 6. Embiid will miss the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals with the injury.
May 2, 2023: Embiid has played in 66 of 82 games and is named MVP of the 2022-23 NBA season.
Jan. 30, 2024: An awkward play causes Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga to fall onto Embiid’s left knee, causing Embiid to tear his lateral meniscus and require surgery on his left knee.
April 25, 2024: After scoring 50 points in Game 3 of the NBA playoffs, Embiid reveals he’s been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, which has left him suffering from facial paralysis, migraines and blurred vision.
July 9, 2024: Embiid brushes off injury concerns en route to his Olympic debut.
“I’ve never worried about injuries, because the minute I start worrying about them, I feel like I’m not the same as I was before,” Embiid said. “If something happens, it’s meant to happen, so I just go with the flow.”
