Full history timeline of Joel Embiid’s injuries and why he’s basically living in a Final Destination movie

Drew Smith
December 26, 2024
Sixers
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At this point, it’s undeniable: Joel Embiid is living in one of the Final Destination movies.

It doesn’t matter what he’s doing, where he’s going, or how it happens—the Merchant of Death is always lurking, plotting some new, ridiculous way to slow him down.

On Wednesday, the universe took another swing at Embiid during pregame warmups, but the big man once again emerged victorious, reminding us all why he’s the best basketball player in the world when he’s somewhat healthy.

Joel Embiid’s Warmup Fadeaway Meets Fate

During warmups before the Sixers’ Christmas Day showdown against the Boston Celtics, Embiid was casually shooting a fadeaway three when his momentum carried him backwards into a courtside employee. Of course, because it’s Embiid, this minor collision turned into an epic tumble that sent him crashing into the front row, clutching his ankle in pain.

The Merchant of Death strikes again.

No sign of Embiid after this fall pic.twitter.com/nTX8iZeToL
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) December 25, 2024

Captured on video by the beIN SPORTS feed, the moment was equal parts absurd and concerning. It’s almost like the universe heard “fadeaway three” and thought, Not today, Joel. Not today.

Joel Embiid Injury History Timeline (H/T Sporting News)

June 19, 2014: Days before the NBA Draft, Embiid undergoes surgery to repair a stress fracture of the navicular bone in his right foot. He is given a recovery timeline of four-to-six months.

Aug. 27, 2014: The Sixers front office expresses doubt that Embiid will be able to play during the 2014-15 NBA season. He ultimately misses the entirety of the 2014-15 campaign.

June 13, 2015: Embiid suffers a setback in his recovery, per Adrian Wojnarowski. After the 76ers confirmed the report, it is revealed that Embiid re-broke his navicular bone and will require another surgery.

Aug. 18, 2015: Embiid shares a photo from the hospital, confirming that he has undergone successful surgery to repair his broken bone. The 76ers announce he will miss the entirety of the 2015-16 season to recover.

Jan. 20, 2017: In his 30th career NBA game, Embiid suffers a fall and aggravates his left knee, causing him to miss Philadelphia’s next three games due to swelling and soreness.

Jan. 27, 2017: Embiid scores 32 points in 28 minutes in a loss to the Rockets, which would ultimately be the final game of his rookie season. He returns to the sideline with left knee swelling.

Feb. 11, 2017: The knee swelling is the product of a “minor” meniscus tear, per reports. Embiid is listed as day-to-day by the 76ers.

March 1, 2017: Embiid is ruled out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season after his meniscus injury “appears more pronounced” on a follow-up MRI. He finishes his rookie year having played just 31 games.

March 28, 2018: A collision with teammate Markelle Fultz results in Embiid fracturing his left orbital bone and sustaining a concussion. The injury requires surgery and Embiid is placed in the league’s concussion protocol, sidelining him for the final eight games of the regular season and the first two games of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.

Jan. 6, 2020: Embiid suffers a gruesome finger injury in a win over the Thunder. The injury requires surgery and sidelines Embiid for Philadelphia’s next nine games.

May 31, 2021: Embiid takes an awkward fall in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Wizards. The 76ers later announce that Embiid had suffered a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, sidelining him for one game.

Nov. 8, 2021: Embiid is placed in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, causing him to miss nine games. Upon returning to the lineup, Embiid shares that “I really thought I wasn’t going to make it,” detailing the toll the virus took on him.

April 20, 2022: Embiid tears a ligament in his right thumb in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Raptors. It is reported that the injury will require offseason surgery.

April 28, 2022: An elbow from Raptors forward Pascal Siakam in Philadelphia’s series-clinching Game 6 win results in Embiid suffering a mild concussion and a right orbital fracture. Embiid misses the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with the injury.

May 2, 2023: Embiid is named MVP of the 2022-23 NBA season after appearing in 66 of 82 games.

Jan 30, 2024: An awkward play leads to Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga falling on Embiid’s left knee. It is revealed that Embiid suffered a torn lateral meniscus on the play and that the injury would require surgery on his left knee.

April 25, 2024: After scoring 50 points in Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs, Embiid reveals that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, resulting in paralysis of his face, migraines and blurred vision.

July 9, 2024: In preparation for his Olympics debut, Embiid brushes off injury concerns. “I never worry about injuries because the moment I do I feel I’m not going to be the same,” Embiid says. “I think if something happens then it was meant to happen, so I just go with the flow.”

Aug. 10, 2024: Embiid sees 11 minutes of action as Team USA earns an 11-point win over France to win Olympic gold.

Sept. 20, 2024: Ahead of training camp for the 2024-25 season, Embiid inks a three-year contract extension worth $192.9 million. Embiid says “Philadelphia is home. I want to be here for the rest of my career,” as the deal keeps him with the Sixers through at least 2029.

Oct. 3, 2024: Embiid reveals he has been a limited participant at training camp as the Sixers look to prioritize his long-term health following a heavy summer workload. The plan is for him to keep “slowly building back up” ahead of the season opener.

Oct. 22, 2024: After missing the entirety of the preseason with “left knee injury management,” Embiid is ruled out for Philadelphia’s regular season opener for the same reason.

Nov. 12, 2024: Embiid makes his regular-season debut after missing six games for knee injury management and three games for a league-mandated suspension from an altercation with a media member. In 26 minutes, Embiid scores 13 points (on 2-of-11 shooting) in a 12-point loss to the Knicks.

Nov. 22, 2024: After playing four games in nine days, Embiid is initially ruled out of Philadelphia’s next two games to manage swelling in his left knee. The absence extends beyond the initial prognosis and Embiid is shut down for two weeks and misses a total of seven games to manage the swelling.

Dec. 8, 2024: Embiid returns to action for his fifth game of the year. He scores 31 points, pulls down 12 rebounds and dishes out four assists in 33 minutes of playing time.

Dec. 13, 2024: In his second game back from knee injury management, Embiid suffers a sinus fracture after taking an inadvertent blow to the face.

Dec. 20, 2024: Embiid returns to the floor wearing a protective face mask after missing one game with a sinus fracture.

NBA vs. Embiid: The Saga Continues

Look, we all know the NBA “Hates The Process.” But Wednesday’s fiasco felt like even darker forces were at play. Embiid has spent this season battling everything from injuries to ejections, and this latest mishap felt like another chapter in the ongoing conspiracy to keep him down.

And yet, like the hero of any good horror movie, Embiid keeps surviving.

After shaking off the pregame scare, he returned to the court just minutes before tip-off and proceeded to destroy the Boston Celtics.

Order Restored to the Realm

Embiid didn’t just play—he dominated. Dropping 27 points and pulling down nine rebounds, the former MVP led the Sixers to a 118-114 win over their biggest rival.

On Christmas Day, no less.

Embiid said fuck you to Boston 😭

pic.twitter.com/cIgoKsqToK
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) December 25, 2024

The Sixers dismantled Boston in front of a national audience, sending a clear message: when Embiid is on the floor, the Sixers are legit. The Celtics may have spent the past few seasons thinking they ruled the East, but Embiid and Co. reminded them who’s really in charge.

Best in the World? No Question

For all the chaos and bad luck that seems to follow Embiid, nights like Wednesday prove why he’s still the most dominant player in basketball.

When he’s even somewhat healthy, there’s simply no one better. He can shoot, he can defend, he can dominate in the post, and he can drag his team to victory against the NBA’s best.

So, while the universe may keep throwing obstacles in his path, Joel Embiid will keep dodging them—and taking down whoever’s in his way. On Christmas, that meant dismantling the Celtics and giving Sixers fans the holiday gift they deserve.