Nick Nurse somehow claims the Sixers haven’t reached the point in shutting down Joel Embiid for the rest of the season

At this point, it’s getting tough to even remember the last time Joel Embiid was truly healthy. He’s out again Monday against the Bulls, missing his 38th game of the season out of a possible 57.

That’s not a typo. This season has spiraled from disappointment into straight-up disaster, and at the center of it all is Embiid’s lingering left knee issue.

Just hours before tip-off last night, Nick Nurse tried to squash any talk of shutting down the big fella for the rest of the year, insisting the team wasn’t considering it.

Nick Nurse claims the Sixers haven’t reached the point in shutting down Joel Embiid for the rest of the season…

Nick Nurse, when asked if he believes Joel Embiid is done for the season: “Not at that point at all. Just again we are playing and testing and trying to figure it out and go from there.”

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 24, 2025

Like seriously, what does that even mean? It’s par for the course in the way that the Sixers organization handles injuries, so I really can’t even say I’m surprised but rather pissed off at how badly this front office has managed Joel Embiid and really, this entire roster throughout the 2024-25 NBA season.

Obviously, Nurse can say whatever he wants publicly, but the front office’s moves tell a different story. They’re apparently exploring “alternative options” for Embiid’s recovery, which is cryptic front-office speak for, “we have no idea what we’re doing.”

76ers and Joel Embiid are consulting doctors and considering ‘alternative options’ on his injured knee after treatments show zero improvement

Look, it doesn’t matter what Nurse says publicly—there’s zero reason for Embiid to be out there risking further injury at this point. Philly has lost 9 of its last 10 games, the season is cooked, and there’s really nothing left to gain by throwing Embiid onto the floor and for the Sixers and Nick Nurse to say otherwise is downright insulting to the fanbase.

Ask yourself: Do you even know what’s wrong with Embiid’s knee? Why hasn’t anyone told us?

The smartest move would have been shutting him down weeks ago or really, not allowing Joel Embiid to take the court at all this season. I know his knee is FUBAR and that surgery won’t 100% fix the issue, but the plan to “manage the pain” and sparingly play Embiid in effort to keep him healthy for the playoffs was a complete disaster.

At this point, literally none of that matters anymore. The media can sit there and criticize Embiid all he wants but from my perspective, this is a guy who’s constantly hurt and doing everything possible to play basketball.

It’s just not working out no matter what direction he takes, right? Maybe just keep the recycled talking points about Embiid being in shape or “acting like a professional” early in his career to Philly Sports Talk Radio.

That nonsense won’t fly here and really, two seasons ago no one, and I mean no one, had shit to say when Joel Embiid won the NBA MVP. Hindsight is always 20/20 and criticizing a player for being injured when we all know what he can do when he is healthy just seems lazy.

As for what direction the Sixers should take now, they really need to shut it all down. I’ve been saying it for months at this point because, well, the Tankathon should be the main priority.

This is the way…

There’s no place like home 😤 pic.twitter.com/dxlpHTVIcq

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) February 25, 2025

The Sixers need to keep their top-6 protected pick, and come back next year ready to make a real run. Instead, the Sixers continue to live in this weird middle ground of denial and desperation.

Somehow, someway, this team is back in purgatory. It’s pretty wild to even think about, right? after years of suffering through The Process, only to be given an arsenal of first round draft picks to go along with the “star hunting” mentality in order to bring a championship to Philly, we are left with an injury ridden roster featuring Joel Embiid, who unironically goes by the nickname of “The Process” to show for it.

Makes me want to jump off the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Even chasing a the top-6 protect pick isn’t a “sure thing” for the Sixers.

Philly sits dangerously close to handing over their draft rights to Oklahoma City. Shutting down Embiid—and let’s be honest, the whole damn team—is the only move that makes sense. It lets you salvage something from this lost season, keeps your draft capital, and gives your franchise star a chance to finally get healthy.

But this is the Sixers we’re talking about. Logic rarely prevails.

Right now, Nurse says they’re not considering a shutdown, but what exactly are the “alternative options”? Joel Embiid clearly needs rest—he’s limping through games, looking nothing like the superstar Philly signed to a mega-extension last fall.

Nobody wants to watch a tank job, but at this point, what else do you have to lose? It’s not even tanking; it’s smart asset management. Otherwise, Philly might wind up with no Embiid, no pick, and no hope.

At least shutting things down now could give fans something to hope for—besides next October.

The prophecy is near 👁️ pic.twitter.com/Verk1QrSBR

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) February 25, 2025

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