The Philadelphia 76ers are fighting hard to avoid the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament. Whether the team is successful will likely come down to the health of 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid. As Embiid battles his latest injury, a local insider provided the latest update.
76ers Insider Says Joel Embiid Is Recovering
76ers insider Noah Levick provided an update on Embiid’s current status. Levick said, “Sixers say Joel Embiid has been cleared to continue his on-court work after meeting with doctors. Worked out today with player development coaches. No formal update yet on his status for weekend back-to-back.”
Embiid missed the 76ers’ last few games before the All-Star Break and is currently dealing with right shin soreness. While Embiid may be slightly diminished due to injuries, he’s still highly productive. He’s averaging 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game this season.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, before embarking on their road trip, spoke about the difficulties of having different playing styles when Joel Embiid plays and doesn’t play.@KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/jkxWa9h5OQ
— Dave Uram (@MrUram) February 20, 2026
While some of it is due to a minutes restriction, Embiid only has seven double-doubles in 31 games this season, which is noteworthy considering he was always amongst the league leaders in that category at his peak. Embiid’s free-throw rate has also noticeably dropped after four straight seasons during which he averaged more than 10 free-throw attempts per game.
After averaging 8.9 attempts per game last season, Embiid is currently at 8.6 this season. Those would be amazing numbers for nearly the entire league, but it is another sign that Embiid is now on the back end of his career.
However, Embiid has shown flashes of dominance this season and is still a good rim protector. Tyrese Maxey’s arrival as one of the league’s best guards means that Embiid is a luxury for the regular season. Maxey currently ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring at 28.9 points per game, so the 76ers can lean on him and Rookie of the Year contender VJ Edgecombe to get the 76ers through the regular season to the playoffs.
Embiid remains the key to the 76ers making a deep playoff run. That’s why the organization will likely monitor his playing time the rest of the regular season and take a cautious approach. A fully rested Embiid makes the 76ers a dangerous team in the playoffs, especially if they receive any contributions from Paul George once he returns from suspension.
The 76ers have a winnable road game against the New Orleans Pelicans before finishing the weekend in Minnesota against the Timberwolves. With a 30-25 record, they sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, desperate to move up, as they are just 0.5 games ahead of the Orlando Magic, who are seventh.
