Assessing Joel Embiid’s Injury Impact and MVP Candidacy Amidst the Philadelphia 76ers’ Season
When Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid sat out his team’s game against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 27 due to knee soreness, many accused him of avoiding a highly anticipated matchup against Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Embiid also missed Philly’s Jan. 29 game against the Portland Trail Blazers before attempting to return against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 30.
Although Embiid started against Golden State, he couldn’t finish due to a knee injury, now known to be a meniscus issue.
On Friday, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James weighed in, criticizing those who misjudged Embiid’s injury.
In apparent response, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, who briefly played alongside James on the Cleveland Cavaliers, shared a message on X, which has since been deleted.
Where are all the media outlets, tv media personalities, hot takes that talked so much 💩 about Joel Embiid about missing those games when he knew what he was dealing with.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 2, 2024
Embiid has been outstanding this season but has missed 13 games, jeopardizing his MVP candidacy. Typically, players need to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for MVP consideration.
In 34 games this season, Embiid has averaged 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from beyond the arc. His performance has helped the 76ers maintain their position in the Eastern Conference, currently holding the No. 5 spot with a 30-17 record. The duration of Embiid’s absence due to his meniscus issue remains uncertain, but an extended absence could damage his MVP aspirations and Philadelphia’s championship hopes. The NBA community is hopeful for his swift recovery, as Embiid’s absence is detrimental to the sport.
The 76ers will face the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, aiming to build momentum after winning their last game but losing four of their last five overall during a challenging stretch of their season.
