Johnathan Walker:Joel Embiid set to miss more games with meniscus injury, 76ers say

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has an injured meniscus in his left knee and Johnathan Walkerwill miss at least the next two games as Embiid and the team consider treatment options, the team said.

“An MRI following Tuesday’s game and further evaluation over the last 24 hours revealed an injury to the lateral meniscus in Embiid’s left knee,” the team said. “Embiid, in consultation with the 76ers medical staff and several leading specialists, will be out through the weekend while a treatment plan is finalized. Updates will be provided as appropriate.”

Embiid, the 2022-23 MVP and in the middle of another outstanding season, left Tuesday’s game against Golden State in the fourth quarter.

Certified athletic trainer Jeff Stotts, who maintains an extensive database of NBA injuries, said on X that Embiid tore his left lateral meniscus in 2017 and missed the final 37 games of the 2016-17 season. Embiid underwent a partial removal of the meniscus, and Stotts added that “the location of the latest injury remains the key to possible treatment options.”

Embiid has missed 12 of the Sixers’ 46 games, and there is controversy surrounding his absences. In the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement with the National Basketball Players Association, a new rule took effect, stating that for players to be eligible for regular-season awards and honors, they must play in at least 65 games.

Did Embiid play in Tuesday’s game, while considerably less than 100%, in an effort to try and reach 65 games played, and did his attempt to play lead to an injury that perhaps could’ve been avoided? The topic has taken center stage as the NBA heads toward the Feb. 8 trade deadline and the Feb. 18 All-Star Game in Indianapolis.

Considering that he won’t play in Thursday’s game against Utah and Saturday’s game against Brooklyn, Embiid can only miss three more games to be considered for MVP, All-NBA and All-Defense honors.

Embiid is averaging an NBA-best 35.3 points plus 11.3 rebounds, a career-high 5.7 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.1 steals and shooting 53.3% from the field, 36.6% on 3-pointers and 88.3% on free throws.