Apr 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) before game 5 of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Brad Penner
Joel Embiid is off the injury report for the first time this season, setting up his season debut for Tuesday at home against the New York Knicks.
Embiid missed the first six games of the season due to what the team defined as "left knee injury management".
An investigation into whether the Sixers were in violation of the league's Player Participation Policy revealed that Embiid missed those games due to a "left knee condition". All the while, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse maintained that Embiid was not missing games due to lingering issues associated with recovering from the procedure the Sixers star underwent in the middle of last season to address a meniscus injury in his left knee.
Embiid was then dealt a three-game suspension without pay for his role in a physical altercation with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes following the Sixers' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies two Saturdays ago.
The team ruled Embiid healthy enough to play following the Sixers' loss to the Phoenix Suns in the first game of last week's west coast road trip, setting into motion the three-game suspension that covered the team's losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Paul George made his Sixers debut against the Suns, missing the team's first five games of the regular season due to a bone bruise suffered on a hyperextended knee during the preseason.
The Sixers are 2-7 on the season, in desperate need of their stars to not only return to the court ready to play but develop rhythm together quickly.
George will be available for Tuesday's game against the Knicks as well, while Tyrese Maxey's hamstring injury suffered during the Clippers game will be re-evaluated later this week.
