The Sixers will be without two members of their “big three” when they open their season on Wednesday vs. the Bucks, the team announced today. As Ramona Shelburne of ESPN relays (via Twitter), Joel Embiid and Paul George have both been ruled out for that game.
Embiid didn’t play at all during the preseason due to left knee management. In addition to being ruled out for Wednesday’s opener, the star center will also miss Friday’s game in Toronto and Sunday’s in Indiana before being reevaluated this weekend. However, the former MVP is expected to ramp up his return-to-play activities and will scrimmage this week, so it sounds like the isn’t far off from making his season debut.
As for George, he’s said to be recovering well after hyperextending his left knee during the preseason. He’ll also ramp up his on-court activities this week and hasn’t been ruled out for any games beyond Wednesday’s vs. Milwaukee. The plan is for the star forward to be reassessed later this week.
While it’s a somewhat discouraging sign for 76ers fans that two of the team’s three stars will be on the shelf for the start of the season, the team has repeatedly expressed a desire to play it safe with Embiid and George this season in the hopes of having them at full strength for the postseason, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the team isn’t rushing them back for the first of 82 regular season games.
Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA:
- Lakers guard Austin Reaves missed some time during the preseason with an ankle injury, but he said on Monday that the ankle feels great now and that he’s good to go for the club’s opener vs. Minnesota on Tuesday (Twitter link via Jovan Buha of The Athletic).
- Suns swingman Grayson Allen missed the team’s final four preseason contests due to a sore right Achilles, but he said he “did just about everything” in practice on Monday and hopes to be active when Phoenix’s season tips off on Wednesday vs. the Clippers, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Meanwhile, Suns guards Josh Okogie and Damion Lee are battling hamstring issues. “I think Damion is close,” head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Josh is a little bit behind those guys.”
- Dejounte Murray isn’t injured, but his status for the Pelicans‘ opener on Wednesday vs. Chicago is up in the air since he’s away from the team due to a family emergency, tweets Christian Clark of NOLA.com. Head coach Willie Green said the team is “hopeful” Murray will be available to make his Pelicans debut on Wednesday.
Wow. Complete shocker.
Sign old oft injured players to huge deals this is what you get. Would not be shocking to see them to miss playoffs if these guys miss extended time. Very bad GM.
Amazing that nba talking heads still gas up that overrated GM.
but he was ok to play in the Olympics 2-3 months ago. this guy is a joke
New season…Same crap
As I said, Embiid is injury-prone. 76ers should acquire a healthy superstar this summer.
George is just another Embiid.
76ers are a play-in team? 7th -10th seed in the East.
If 76ers were in the West, they would have a hard time to make playoffs?
Sixers are Sixersmaxing.
Already with the Sixers.
Get used to it…
Injuries always affect your season. Contending teams should be ready for this. They know being healthy for playoffs is what really counts. Top teams have depth or moves. To get thru this.
Celtics, Knicks, Sixers, even Cavs. Have all been banged up. Stay healthy and they all have a chance.
6th place at best?