Disgusting Behavior: Joel Embiid, Sixers had tension over knee injury, organization basically told him to ‘walk it off’

JOEL EMBIID – If you were looking for a neat, drama-free ending to the 2024-25 Sixers season, look somewhere else — like literally anywhere else, maybe a car fire or a American politics because now we’re bringing the obvious medical mistrust to the forefront of the problems with Philadelphia basketball.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, there was “tension” between Joel Embiid and the 76ers front office this season over — surprise! — how they handled his knee injury. Joel Embiid believed he needed surgery. The Sixers apparently wanted him to run it off like it’s JV basketball.

The Sixers were trying to kill Joel Embiid

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— Philly Sixers Galaxy (@sixers_galaxy) April 3, 2025

“The team believed he needed to play at some points of the season… He felt like he needed surgery,” Shams said on NBA Today. “He ends up getting the surgery.”

So just to be clear:

• Embiid says: This knee is cooked.
• Sixers say: Play your way into shape.
• Embiid gets surgery anyway.
• Everyone acts shocked when this backfires.

If you’ve been reading The Liberty Line and my Sixers coverage then you already know how I feel about this situation. The entire thing has been a complete shit show since last Summer and I’m not surprised at all that the organization was in full-panic mode and scrambling for an easy-fix to Embiid’s knee injury.

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The entire organization has been and continues to be a complete joke when handling any type of injuries and now Shams is out here dropping a “bomb” on something that anyone who’s been paying attention since The Process, already knew.

This is a blatant organizational red flag. The Sixers once again handled their franchise-cornerstone, worldwide superstar, and former NBA MVP like a disposable rental car, hoping for the best and ignoring the check engine light until it burst into flames.

The Sixers Basically Tried to Kill Joel Embiid

Everyone involved should be fired immediately.

Let’s not pretend this is the first time something like this has popped up. The Sixers have a long and storied tradition of being absolutely awful at managing player injuries. From Markelle Fultz’s phantom shoulder to Ben Simmons’ back and now Joel’s knee — you can build an entire orthopedic clinic just off Sixers medical mishaps.

What Happens Now?

I mean, who knows at this point. Embiid has every right to be pissed off at the Philadelphia 76ers organization and really, anyone who doubted him over the past year. I personally hope he uses it as motiviation and comes back bigger and strong than ever next season after the team tanks it’s way into a top 5 lottery pick but unfortunately, I would also understand if that wasn’t the case.

Joel Embiid is now 30 years old with a surgically repaired knee and a resume full of postseason heartbreak. The clock isn’t just ticking — it’s screaming. And if there’s even a sliver of mistrust between the franchise and its only MVP since Allen Iverson, that’s a real problem.

Meanwhile…

The Sixers front office probably thinks this’ll blow over but if the plan was to tell Joel to “walk it off” while his meniscus was hanging on by a thread, maybe they should stop asking why he only played 19 games this year.

The drama never sleeps in Philly. Let’s just hope Embiid’s knee does.

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