The reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid re-injured his left knee on Tuesday against the Warriors, and preliminary MRI results show a lateral meniscus tear. The new injury will force the 76ers center to miss Saturday's game against Brooklyn and may take him out of the season for longer.
Although the team is vague about Joel's recovery time, commenting that they are still working on a plan, injuries of this type demand a four to six-week recovery if surgical intervention is not necessary. If Embiid needs to go under the knife, the regular season is over for him, including his chances to remain an MVP.
According to the new NBA rules concerning awards eligibility, a player must play at least 20 minutes in 65 regular-season games to be considered for an award. The Philadelphia center is in an unfavorable position after the injury, having played 34 games so far in the season. The math indicates Embiid has the luxury of missing only five more games if he wants to stay in the running for this year's MVP.
Betting Odds Drop Precipitously
Before the injury, Embiid was on track to repeat as an MVP, averaging 36 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per contest, with a personal record of 70 points scored against the San Antonio Spurs in January. Most sports gambling apps have already realigned their odds for the Most Valuable Player Award by removing Embiid from the top position, giving him the 6th best odds at +6000 to win the award. The new favorite is Nikola Jokic, with -140 odds.
Losing Embiid for a prolonged time drastically affects the 76ers' odds of winning the Larry O'Brien trophy. Currently, the best betting sites with free bets offer +1800 NBA title odds on a future bet for Philadelphia.
Without Embiid on the court, the Sixers are not the same team. Before this new injury, the center missed two games the previous week after experiencing soreness in the same knee. The Sixers lost both games and entered a four-game losing streak, which was interrupted against the Jazz with a 127-124 win, in which Tyrese Maxey exploded with 51 points.
The next test for Maxey is the Nets at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, February 3, and betting with a BetMGM promo code is an option.
Career Plagued By Injuries
The biggest challenge to Embiid's professional career has been injuries, with Joel missing three full seasons of games. Health issues started appearing in his rookie days, with a stress fracture in his right foot, forcing Embiid to miss games from two seasons in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Embiid showcased his talent by returning to the court in the 2016-2017 season, but after 31 games, a torn left meniscus ended his season. An orbital fracture in 2018 resulted in a 10-game absence. A sore left knee took Embiid off the hardwood floor for 14 games the following year.
Surgery to repair a ligament in his left hand led to him missing nine games in 2020, and in 2021, a left knee bruise sidelined Joel's MVP prospects. The knee was not causing Joel issues in 2022, but multiple hand injuries required procedures. In 2023, significant injuries were not an issue for Joel, and not surprisingly, he won the MVP.
The new 2024 injury might jeopardize Embiid's participation as a starter in the All-Star tournament, scheduled for February 18 in Indianapolis. Another long-term consequence of this injury can force Embiid to miss the Olympics in Paris after he committed to play for Team USA this summer.
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