NBA: Embiid to Undergo Appendectomy Before Playoffs
Joel Embiid will undergo surgery to remove his appendix just one week before the start of the NBA playoffs, his team, the Philadelphia 76ers, announced Thursday.
The team explained in a statement that Embiid, who has Cameroonian roots and is the 2023 NBA MVP, will have the surgery Thursday afternoon in Houston, Texas, where the team is scheduled to play its game that same day.
The 76ers did not provide further details about the 32-year-old star's expected recovery time.
Embiid has struggled with a decline in form in recent years due to numerous injuries and surgeries, particularly on his knees, since being named the 2023 NBA MVP. Embiid has rediscovered his form, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, though he has only played 38 of 79 games this season.
The 76ers currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference (43 wins and 36 losses), a position that would allow them to qualify for the playoffs. However, they can still hope to finish sixth or fifth by Sunday, which would guarantee them a direct playoff berth starting on April 18.