76ers owner Josh Harris has debunked reports that his franchise is frustrated with Joel Embiid’s inability to stay healthy.
Last week, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that some within the Sixers franchise are growing impatient with Embiid being perennially injured. However, Harris has stated that the 76ers remain fully committed to Embiid and hope to keep their former MVP for the long haul.
“We’re still really happy with Joel,” Harris told The Athletic’s David Aldridge. “He’s a warrior. I’ve seen this. He’s fought through a lot of injuries. You remember when we started, in his first (two) years, he didn’t play at all. And then, in his third year, he played 30-something games. And then, he fought through all of that, and became the MVP. So, he’s fighting right now, and we’re fighting. And I’m hopeful and optimistic that we’ll get through.”
Harris stressed that the 76ers haven’t pressured Embiid to fast-track his rehab process and want him to “get his body right and get on the court” regardless of the timeframe. To that end, Harris hinted at the franchise potentially looking at the 2024-25 season as a down year with hopes for a healthier campaign next year.
“He’s getting the absolute best care and best advice,” Harris said of Embiid. “I’m hopeful that he’ll fight through this and make it happen, and that’s what we’re going to plan for right now.”
Embiid has appeared in only 13 of the 76ers’ 44 games this season due to a lingering knee issue. He played 33 games last year before undergoing midseason surgery to fix a left meniscus tear.
The 76ers (17-27) are in a tricky spot. Since they owe their 2025 first-round pick to the Thunder (top 6 protected), they may not be incentivized to tank the season to improve their lottery odds. As such, they may have no choice but to push for a playoff berth.
