Bryan Colangelo: Joel Embiid Has ‘Very Minor Tear’ in Left Knee

Hours after Joel Embiid said after the Sixers' morning shootaround Saturday that he was "not healthy," general manager Bryan Colangelo revealed the rookie big man has "a very minor meniscal tear" in his left knee found in an MRI on Jan. 20.

"On the MRI that was conducted shortly after the injury vs. Portland, the MRI revealed obviously what we thought it to be - a bone bruise," Colangelo said before the Sixers' game against Miami on Saturday.

"There was also the recognition that there was a very minor meniscal tear. But it was not thought to be acute and it was not thought to be the source of the pain, inflammation or symptoms. That is the case."

Embiid has missed nine straight games and 12 of the Sixers' last 13. Embiid missed three games after the Jan. 20 game against Portland, but then returned against the Rockets on Jan. 27 and suffered a left knee contusion. He's been out since and is still dealing with soreness and swelling. On Saturday morning, he said "today's the best day I felt in the past two weeks."

Derek Bodner first reported the injury. According to Bodner, it's a low-grade tear and it will not require surgery.