Philadelphia 76ers' Center Joel Embiid (knee) to Sit Out Preseason Games

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will not be playing until the regular season due to his troublesome left knee.

The team announced this decision on Sunday, following Embiid's absence from preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics.

\"As part of his knee management, doctors assessed Joel Embiid on Thursday,\" the team stated. \"He is progressing well and will continue with an individual treatment plan to support his health for the upcoming season. He will not participate in this week's preseason games. Further updates will be provided as needed.\"

Embiid recently shared that he lost 25 to 30 pounds during the offseason to alleviate pressure on his knee.

He will also miss upcoming preseason games against the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Orlando Magic.

The Philadelphia 76ers will begin their regular season on October 23 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Last season, Embiid only played in 39 games due to his troublesome left knee.

The 30-year-old was injured in a collision with Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga on January 30. He underwent a procedure to repair his meniscus on February 6.

Despite his injury, Embiid pushed through and played in the playoffs.

In the regular season, he averaged an impressive 34.7 points and 11 rebounds, earning him a spot on the All-Star team for the seventh consecutive year.

Embiid was also named NBA MVP for the 2022-23 season, where he averaged 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in 66 games. He is a two-time scoring champion and recently won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA.

Overall, Embiid has averaged 27.9 points and 11.2 rebounds in 433 games over eight seasons.