Joel Embiid Unhappy With How Sixers Handled Injury Updates

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Joel Embiid will miss the next four games and is slated to return March 3 against the Knicks in Philadelphia, so long as he is symptom-free. While Embiid wants to play as soon as possible, he's just glad there is now a definitive timetable announced.

Prior to Thursday, the team had not announced a specific timeframe.

"I wasn't too happy with the way it was kind of handled before," Embiid said. "I saw the day-to-day part. I was told that I was going to miss at least two or three weeks. So I wasn't happy with the way it was handled.

"I thought keeping my name out there was going to just like literally have people think about me all the time instead of just saying when I was going to be back. So I'm happy that they did that today and they said that I'm out for the next four games."

Embiid suffered a left knee contusion on Jan. 22 against the Trail Blazers. He sat out three games and returned on Jan. 27 to play the Rockets. He has not played since then, sitting out the last eight games.

An MRI also revealed Embiid has a slight tear in his meniscus, which is not thought to be related to the contusion.

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Embiid went through a full practice on Thursday for the first time, he estimated, in four or five weeks. (Wednesday's practice was not intense.) According to the Sixers, they are encouraged by the progress Embiid showed but do not feel he is game-ready. Team doctors are holding him out the next four games to minimize the risk of aggravating his knee. In order for him to be cleared, Embiid has to be symptom-free.

Embiid had eyed a return on Friday against the Wizards because he was feeling well, he said, but he had some swelling on Thursday.

"No swelling, no pain, nothing," Embiid said of his criteria to play.

Now the team -- and fans -- can move forward without daily questions of Embiid's status.

"I think it's good for everybody," Brett Brown said. "For you all to understand, the people that buying a ticket to understand, for me as a coach to prepare my team that he's not going to be here for four more games. I like that clarity. I'm fine with it. Obviously, you want him playing, but the mystery that surrounds that speculation I think is frustrating for people and we understand that."

Embiid reiterated the patience aspect of the injury, noting he waited two years to rehab his foot and there is no need to rush his knee. Now everyone can be in the loop with his status.

"The end point is basically making sure I'm ready to play instead of just putting me out there," Embiid said.

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