NBA – After Wembanyama, Another Superstar Sidelined for at Least 6 Months?

The NBA suffered a major blow with the premature end of Victor Wembanyama’s season.

Even worse, the French center may not be the only superstar forced to sit out the coming months due to health concerns…

The Final Stretch of the 2024/25 Season

We are now in the final stretch of the 2024/25 season. The All-Star break has passed, and only about twenty regular-season games remain.

This is a crucial time for teams to secure their playoff spots or, for those at the top of the standings, to consolidate their position and secure home-court advantage for the playoffs starting in April.

The problem is that in the pursuit of strong performances, players sometimes push their bodies too hard.

This often leads to severe injuries, some of which can be devastating. In an extreme case, Victor Wembanyama has been ruled out for the rest of the season after doctors discovered a blood clot in his shoulder—an enormous setback for the San Antonio Spurs.

A Concerning Prognosis for Joel Embiid

Wembanyama is not the only big man at risk of missing the playoffs.

Not only are Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in danger of missing even the Play-In Tournament (currently sitting at 20-37, 12th in the Eastern Conference), but the former MVP is still struggling with physical issues and has played only 19 games this season.

Reports from Basket News relay particularly concerning information about the long-term future of the superstar:

According to Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer, doctors have suggested that Embiid may require a “radical procedure” such as microfracture surgery, meniscus replacement, low-dose radiation therapy, or an osteotomy (which involves breaking a hip bone to realign the joint). These treatments could sideline him for six months to over a year, and any return to competition would likely come with long-term limitations.

Initially, the plan was for Embiid to manage his pain while continuing to play, using regular knee drainages and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, according to the same report.

Sixers’ doctors and experts interviewed by The Inquirer believed this approach would support long-term rehabilitation.

They suggested that once the injury reached a certain healing stage, resting the knee too much could actually hinder recovery.

However, for several weeks now, Embiid has shown no signs of improvement, and his condition appears to be worsening.

Should the 76ers Shut Embiid Down for the Season?

Given how much Embiid has struggled to stay healthy, shutting him down for the rest of the season may not be the worst option—even though it would be a devastating blow to Philadelphia.

On the other hand, completely writing off this season and keeping their Top 6 protected draft pick could also be a strategic move.

The Sixers may already be out of contention when it comes to collective success, let alone a title run.

At this point, sidelining Joel Embiid to allow him to return to full strength—if that is even still possible—seems like the smartest choice.