The Sixers' Joel Embiid is hesitant about playing because of a knee injury

The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a 1-3 start, thanks in large part to the absence of stars Joel Embiid and Paul George due to injuries.

George played twice in the preseason and suffered a bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee in the second game. Embiid did not play at all during the preseason as he recovered from a left knee injury.

Due to his injury history, which has limited him to an average of 54 games per season during his eight-year NBA career, fans and media have become skeptical of Embiid's commitment. That doubt is becoming a narrative as a 2024/25 season that lived up to Championship expectations becomes an early disappointment.

Earlier this week, the Sixers were fined $100,000 by the NBA for making “inconsistent” statements about Embiid's health.

After Friday's practice, Embiid responded to growing discontent from fans and media, refuting the notion that he doesn't want to play and reminding fans of that He has played with serious injuries beforeHe came back before he probably should have.

“I broke my face twice, came back early with the risk of losing my vision, had broken fingers, came back anyway,” Embiid told reporters, via Adam Aaronson of the Philly Voice. “When I see people saying, 'He doesn't want to play,' I've done way too much. I've done way too much for this city and put myself at risk of people saying that. I do.” I think they’re cops***.

Embiid then singled out Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who wrote Wednesday that the Sixers should offer fans a refund for games he doesn't attend. Hayes went on to call Embiid “the least reliable superstar in the history of the game” and accused the Sixers of cheating their fans by selling tickets to games where the team knew Embiid would not play.

Head coach Nick Nurse also faced this criticism before Wednesday's 105-95 loss to the Detroit Pistons. WIP's Howard Eskin asked him if not knowing whether the Sixers' stars would play was “fair to paying customers.”

“They are listed as out. “Within league policy, we have to list them,” Nurse replied. “That's why the league has these guidelines.” That's why we list them like that. We don't always have all the information. The reason you do it the day before is because you want to be sure.”

Nurse said Embiid and George would attend practice on Thursday and Friday and he would have a better idea of their status after that. But Embiid told reporters that he will not play in Saturday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. George will also stay outside.

Interesting new information about Shams Charania on ESPN tonight: Joel Embiid apparently HAS fought 5-on-5 “for the last few days,” including today.

There was still no clarity as to whether he had pushed himself, not even today. But Shams says he did and has done it.

Embiid starts tomorrow against Pistons. pic.twitter.com/rLwl0NfQkv

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 29, 2024

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Embiid has participated in 5-on-5 games, supporting the Sixers' claim that he is preparing for the game. Still, the team wants to make sure he is 100% healthy before letting him take the field.

That probably won't appease fans who bought tickets to games thinking they'd see Embiid and George play instead of sitting on the bench in civilian clothes.

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