No timeline set for 76ers’ Embiid and George after knee surgeries
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CAMDEN, N.J. — Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Paul George said Friday that the team has not set target dates for their returns from offseason knee operations.
Speaking at media day on Sept. 26, 2025, Embiid reported feeling “pretty good” but emphasized a day-to-day approach while he checks “all the boxes” required by the medical staff.
“There’s not necessarily an expectation,” Embiid said. “It’s more about making sure everything is right and doing everything right and then go from there. Obviously the goal is to play consistently and not be in the position that we were last year.”
The former NBA MVP was limited to 19 games last season because of a lingering left-knee issue and a foot sprain, ending his campaign in late February. He averaged 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, his lowest figures since 2019-20 and 2016-17, respectively. Embiid underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April with an initial six-week reevaluation window; Friday marked his first public health update since then.
When asked if he might adjust his playing style to reduce injury risk, Embiid resisted the idea. “If you ask me to change the way I play, the only guess that I have is either play offense fully and take plays off defensively, which doesn’t suit me,” he said. “I don’t think I’d ever be OK with that.”
George progressing but still short of full contact
George, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July after being injured during a workout, echoed the no-timeline stance. The nine-time All-Star said he is able to do “pretty much everything but full contact” as swelling subsides.
“This next couple of weeks is very important,” George noted. “All I can do is just focus on doing that, day after day, taking it one day at a time. I do think I will be at a good place, hopefully, earlier than later.”
George signed a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with Philadelphia in the summer of 2024 but appeared in only 41 games last season, dealing with several ailments before shutting things down in March following injections into his left adductor muscle and knee. He averaged 16.2 points, his lowest output since his six-game 2014-15 season, and has topped 56 games just once since 2018-19.
“It can’t get worse than last year,” George said. “That was a rock-bottom kind of season.”
Neither player is expected to be ready when training camp opens, and both reiterated that their availability will depend solely on how their bodies respond to increased workloads.
Source: ESPN
