Joel Embiid Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Harden, Embiid, Celtics, D. Rose

May 2nd, 2023 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Since arriving in Philadelphia at the 2022 trade deadline, James Harden has accepted a reduced offensive role, playing second fiddle to Joel Embiid. Harden’s 25.0% usage rate in 79 regular season games since joining the Sixers is his lowest mark since his last year in Oklahoma City in 2011/12.

With Embiid sidelined for Game 1 of the Sixers’ second-round series vs. Boston, however, Harden turned in a vintage performance, matching his career playoff high with 45 points on 17-of-30 shooting in a narrow upset victory. While the scoring outburst may have surprised many observers, Harden suggested in his postgame comments that it was simply a matter of adjusting his mindset on offense.

“My coaches, my teammates, what they expect me to do all throughout the course of the year was be a facilitator and get Joel the basketball and score when necessary. Joel wasn’t here tonight, you know what I mean?” Harden said, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “…Now it’s like, ‘All right, open the floor. James, you be aggressive.’ And tonight, I was aggressive. So, it’s not that I’m not capable of doing it, it just … this is my role for this team. Now, if you want me to do (what I did) tonight, then I can do that as well.”

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

Joel Embiid worked out on Tuesday afternoon, but Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said there’s “no change in his status” yet, Bontemps writes for ESPN.com. Previous reporting suggested there was optimism about Embiid’s ability to return from his knee injury for Game 2. While Rivers didn’t confirm that, he did say that Philadelphia’s Game 1 win won’t make the team any less willing to bring back the star center for Game 2. “It’s just health-based,” Rivers said. “If he can play, he plays. If he can’t, he can’t. And if it’s 50-50, we would probably err on (the side of sitting him), because we’ve done that all year.”
Following the Celtics‘ disappointing Game 1 loss, Al Horford told reporters that the team lacked defensive urgency and that he believes Embiid’s absence contributed to that, according to Jamal Collier of ESPN. Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon hypothesized that other Sixers players felt “empowered” with Embiid unavailable. “Everybody else has the green light and guys are gonna step up, and I thought that’s what happened tonight,” Brogdon said, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “I think we expected that, guys to step up, but we still struggled with it. We just gotta be prepared.”
Even though he believes he still has “a lot left in the tank,” Knicks guard Derrick Rose has embraced his role as a veteran mentor who’s not part of the rotation, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “I’m fully invested in everything to be here. And if I (wasn’t), I wouldn’t be on the team,” Rose said. “… I’m thankful that they didn’t trade me or buy me out or waive me. I’m happy I have some type of value.”

Joel Embiid Out For Game 1; “Optimism” For Game 2

May 1st, 2023 at 5:10pm CST by Rory Maher

5:10pm: Embiid won’t play in Game 1 on Monday. The team has ruled him out, Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.

2:47pm: Joel Embiid is likely to be sidelined for Monday’s Game 1 in Boston, but the Sixers are optimistic about their best player’s chances of a possible return for Wednesday’s Game 2, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on NBA Today (Twitter video link).

The star center is officially listed as doubtful for tonight’s game. He has done some light on-court work in the past couple days, but he still hasn’t been able to run much.

Embiid had a PRP injection last week to promote healing in the sprained LCL in his right knee. He sustained the injury during Game 3 of the Sixers’ first-round series against the Nets on April 20; Philadelphia went on to win the series 4-0.

A previous report indicated there was optimism the MVP finalist would be able to return at some point during the series. Embiid averaged a league-high 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG and 1.7 BPG on .548/.330/.857 shooting in 66 games (34.6 MPG) during the 2022/23 regular season.

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Harden, Lineup Changes

May 1st, 2023 at 10:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Sixers center Joel Embiid received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his injured right knee as he tries to return for the team’s second-round playoff series, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (video link). He is listed as doubtful for Game 1, which will take place on Monday night in Boston.

Embiid had the injection last week and was able to take part in portions of Sunday’s practice, Charania adds, but he reiterates that the LCL injury Embiid suffered is more serious than the Grade 1 sprain that was reported. The Sixers star has been able to do some shooting recently, but sources tell Charania that he has done very little running and the team would consider it “a miracle” if he is able to play tonight.

Embiid participated in Philadelphia’s shootaround this morning, where he did some light shooting (video link from Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer). His last game action was April 20, when he injured the knee late in Game 3 against the Nets.

There’s more on the Sixers:

Embiid’s workout on Sunday was encouraging and there’s optimism that he’ll return at some point even if he’s not ready tonight, Pompey states in a full story. Embiid didn’t require a brace and was able to move around “fluidly,” according to Pompey. He also participated in shooting drills with James Harden after practice. “He did a little bit more,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Not much. He didn’t do any running or anything like that, but just did some shooting. So he’s better. He’s progressing.”
This may be Harden’s best opportunity to change the narrative about his playoff failures, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Harden said he has emphasized “sacrifice” this season, from taking a contract below market value that left the Sixers with cap room to sign free agents to making an effort to involve his teammates more in the offense. “I think he and Doc and Joel really have been on the same page, but probably the person who had to change the way he approaches and plays the game the most was James,” said president of basketball operations Daryl Morey.
Embiid’s uncertain status is causing the Celtics to prepare for lineups they may not have been before, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “It doesn’t change our mindset,” Malcolm Brogdon said. “It does change our game plan. That’s a team that’s built around Joel, everything he does. All the isos and just a high level of scoring, and now that scoring is going to be a little bit dispersed. Harden is going to be more aggressive, (Tyrese) Maxey is going to be more aggressive, and then all the role guys are going to be more aggressive. They’ve got a lot of good players, so we can’t just focus in on one guy.”

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Playoff Break, Celtics

April 30th, 2023 at 1:54pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Injured Sixers center Joel Embiid faces a big test in the second round of the 2023 Eastern Conference playoffs. Rich Hoffman of The Athletic submits three key questions facing the star big man ahead of Philadelphia’s impending matchup against the Celtics.

Embiid is dealing with a lateral collateral ligament right knee sprain, and the health of that knee will be a huge focus of both teams in the series. Boston center Robert Williams III came off the bench in the team’s first-round series against the Hawks, but given how imperative Embiid is to the Sixers’ play, Hoffman wonders if Williams may get a starting nod to help stifle the 7’1″ MVP candidate. Hoffman notes that Jayson Tatum‘s help defense on Embiid was a big part of the Celtics’ game planning against him.

There’s more out of Philadelphia:

The Sixers enjoyed the lengthiest break between playoff series for any club in four years, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “We will take it, I think, at the end of the day,” head coach Doc Rivers said of the extended layoff. “This is the longest [break between series] I’ve ever had, so [we are] just trying to keep our guys as sharp as possible, and all that is not easy.” Mizell adds that Philadelphia has been working on honing its spacing on offense and some defensive concepts.
Given Embiid’s LCL injury, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer wonders if the Sixers will be able to adjust successfully enough to defeat the Celtics. Guards Tyrese Maxey and James Harden would be expected to help carry more of the scoring burden, and reserve center Paul Reed could see more run as Embiid manages the knee.
Rivers said that Embiid should still be considered doubtful to suit up for the opening game of the Sixers’ series against the Celtics on Monday, but continues to make strides in his rehab, Pompey tweets. Embiid did participate at least a little in Sunday’s practice, Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com reports.

NBA To Announce MVP Winner On May 2

April 29th, 2023 at 8:40pm CST by Arthur Hill

The winner of this season’s MVP award will be revealed on “NBA on TNT” at 7:00 pm Eastern time on May 2, the league announced (via Twitter).

The race has the potential to be very close, with Sixers center Joel Embiid, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Bucks big man Giannis Antetokounmpo all having submitted strong arguments for the award. They were announced as the finalists on April 14.

Embiid is considered the favorite to win the honor after capturing his second consecutive scoring title at 33.1 PPG. He also averaged 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks in 66 games.

Jokic won the last two MVP trophies, and for most of the season it seemed like he was in a good position to claim three in a row. At 24.5 PPG, his scoring average was down from the last two seasons, but he averaged 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 69 games while leading Denver to the top seed in the Western Conference.

Antetokounmpo, also a two-time winner, put together another strong campaign with a career-high 31.1 PPG, along with 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 63 games as Milwaukee posted the league’s best record. The votes were cast before the playoffs began, so the Bucks’ first-round exit won’t affect his chances.

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Reed, Harris, Maxey, Rivers

April 29th, 2023 at 6:22pm CST by Arthur Hill

Joel Embiid‘s right knee injury has been classified as a Grade 1 LCL sprain, but it’s actually more serious than that, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The MVP candidate is considered doubtful for the opener of the second-round series against Boston on Monday, and there are questions about how many games he may have to miss.

Embiid has been able to do some individual shooting drills this week and his condition will be evaluated each day, Charania adds (Twitter link). Game 2 is set for Wednesday in Boston before the series shifts to Philadelphia on Friday and next Sunday.

Embiid hasn’t practiced since being injured, and coach Doc Rivers told reporters today that there’s nothing to update about his condition, writes Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice.

“There is no latest,” Rivers said. “Doctors looked at him and he didn’t do anything today. I’ll say this, if I was a betting man I would say doubtful for at least Game 1, but we’ll see.”

There’s more on the Sixers:

Paul Reed turned in a strong performance in the close-out game against the Nets and he’s ready to replace Embiid in the starting lineup for as long as necessary, Neubeck adds. Reed talked Saturday about earning the trust of his teammates over the course of the season and said the mental part of his game has improved since last year’s playoffs. “Knowing where they need me on the court, where I’m going to get my points, and knowing where I’m going to help my teammates get their points,” Reed said. “… My teammates know what to expect out of me now, and I know what they expect out of myself. It’s a lot more clear.”
The Sixers will need more production from their supporting cast against the Celtics, particularly if Embiid’s absence turns out to be lengthy, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pompey states that the coaching staff needs to find a way to get scoring punch from Tobias Harris throughout the game and it should try to run some of the offense through Tyrese Maxey.
Rivers discusses his future in Philadelphia, the Sixers’ title aspirations, his love for coaching, his recent playoff failures and several other topics in an interview with David Aldridge of The Athletic.

International Notes: Anderson, Embiid, Bacon, Stephenson

April 29th, 2023 at 2:53pm CST by Rory Maher

Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson is considered likely to be naturalized in time to play for the Chinese national team during this summer’s World Cup, sources tell Mike Chan of The South China Morning Post.

As Chan writes, Anderson’s maternal great-grandfather was born in China, making him one-eighth Chinese. Last summer, Anderson and his mother reconnected with some of their long-lost Chinese relatives in a village in Shenzhen.

There’s a catch, however: According to Chinese law, Anderson would have to renounce his United States citizenship to become naturalized in China, as the country doesn’t allow dual citizenship. Anderson did not respond to Chan’s request for comment and was noncommittal about his decision at the end of the season.

Here’s more from around the basketball world:

On the other hand, it seems unlikely that Sixers center Joel Embiid will compete in the 2023 World Cup, at least for France, according to French outlet L’Equipe. “Joel hasn’t made a decision, but it seems difficult for him to be able to play this summer,” French national team head coach Vincent Collet said (hat tip to Eurohoops). “But that does not call into question the fact that he can play with us next year. He is going to get married this summer, and it really falls into the wrong period, during the preparation of all the teams.” As Eurohoops notes, Embiid is a citizen of three different countries: his native Cameroon, France, and the U.S.
Panathinaikos, a Greek club that competes in the EuroLeague, is expected to part ways with former NBA player Dwayne Bacon after he was suspended two games for disciplinary reasons, according to Stavros Barbarousis of Eurohoops (Twitter link). Bacon, 27, played for AS Monaco last season. The former second-round pick’s last NBA campaign was in 2020/21 with Orlando.
Veteran guard Lance Stephenson has signed with Puerto Rican side Leones de Ponce, the team announced in a press release. Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files was the first to report the news. Stephenson finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and four assists in his debut Friday night, Agness writes. The 32-year-old played 46 games for the Hawks and Pacers last season, but an NBA opportunity for ’22/23 didn’t materialize.

Sixers’ Joel Embiid Doubtful For Game 1 Vs. Boston

April 29th, 2023 at 12:08pm CST by Rory Maher

After being examined by team doctors, Sixers center Joel Embiid was unable to practice on Saturday and is considered “doubtful for at least Game 1” against Boston on Monday night, head coach Doc Rivers told reporters, including Rich Hofmann of The Athletic (Twitter video link).

Embiid will need to get some practice time in before being cleared to return, Rivers added.

The star big man sprained his right knee last Thursday during Game 3 of Philadelphia’s first-round series versus Brooklyn. He missed Game 4, but the Sixers won without him to complete their sweep of the Nets.

Initial reports indicated that the Sixers were optimistic about Embiid’s injury — a sprained LCL — and his chances to return sooner rather than later. However, following Game 4 last Saturday, Rivers said the odds of Embiid returning for Game 1 were “probably 50 percent, at best.”

Obviously, playing without Embiid for any length of time against the Celtics will negatively impact Philadelphia’s chances of winning the series. If he is able to return at some point, he’s expected to wear a knee brace to help stabilize the joint.

If Embiid does miss Game 1, Paul Reed is the most likely candidate to start in his place, with fellow big men like Dewayne Dedmon and Montrezl Harrell among the other options for minutes in the middle.

After finishing as the MVP runner-up each of the past two seasons, Embiid is considered the frontrunner for the regular season award in 2022/23. He averaged a league-high 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG and 1.7 BPG on .548/.330/.857 shooting in 66 games (34.6 MPG) this season.

Sixers Notes: McDaniels, Embiid, Tucker, Reed

April 27th, 2023 at 11:00am CST by Arthur Hill

While Sixers forward Jalen McDaniels is enjoying his first playoff experience, he’s also working to improve his prospects in free agency, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. McDaniels reached the play-in tournament a couple of times during his three-and-a-half years with the Hornets, but he got his first opportunity with a contender when Philadelphia traded for him in February.

“That shows I can play at the highest level,” he said. “That I can compete with the best guys. I can stop them. I can get to my spots (on offense and) make plays. … If you play the right way, which I feel I always do, you’re going to stand out in some type of way. Someone’s going to want you, just because you play the right way. Philly came and got me from Charlotte, because they saw I was playing the right way and needed a little piece. … Now I’m on a playoff team. Now I can showcase my game in front of everybody that’s watching. Now everybody can see what’s up.”

That includes teams with cap space this summer who can use an athletic, 25-year-old three-and-D wing. McDaniels likes his new situation in Philadelphia, but he understands that he has the chance to land a big contract when he hits the free agent market.

“It just all depends on what (the Sixers) see from me,” McDaniels said, “and what I see for myself.”

There’s more from Philadelphia:

The Sixers should find out more about Joel Embiid‘s availability for the start of their second-round series in the next day or so, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Embiid is scheduled to meet with his doctors to get an update on the sprained LCL in his right knee, and the team is being cautious as it awaits its next opponent. “He shot a little bit on the side, but not much movement,” coach Doc Rivers said following Wednesday’s practice. “No practice really.”
P.J. Tucker‘s leadership qualities don’t ease up between games, Pompey adds. The Sixers took a gamble by giving a three-year contract to the 37-year-old forward, but he has provided a level of toughness that the team needed. “Today he got angry in practice because it was sloppy and he went off when nobody else did,” Rivers said. “Those are the things that people don’t (see). He just does so many things that are visible only to his team. And that’s why you brought him here.”
The Sixers have engaged in extension talks with backup center Paul Reed, but he’s likely to test the market as a restricted free agent, Shams Charania of The Athletic states on FanDuel TV (video link).
Philadelphia will be among the participants in the Salt Lake City Summer League, along with the Jazz, Grizzlies and Thunder, Pompey tweets. Games are set for July 3, 5 and 6.

Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Grimes, Hartenstein, Horford

April 25th, 2023 at 6:38pm CST by Dana Gauruder

It remains unclear whether or not the Sixers will have Joel Embiid for the start of their second round playoff series but he’ll wear a brace around his right knee if he plays, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The superstar center is nursing a sprained lateral collateral ligament and didn’t practice on Tuesday.

“There really isn’t any update yet,” Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said. “We won’t know anything for at least another couple of days probably before we can move forward.”

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

Knicks guard Quentin Grimes is questionable to play in Game 5 on Wednesday due to a right shoulder contusion, the team’s PR department tweets. The 2021 first-round pick is averaging just 3.7 points in the series against Cleveland.
The Knicks are one win away from their first series victory in 10 years. With New York leading 3-1, center Isaiah Hartenstein says the team can’t get complacent and allow the Cavs to rally back in the series, Peter Botte of the New York Post writes. “I was telling the guys before, we still have one more game to go,” he said. “And I think even if it’s 3-1, I’ve seen a lot of teams come back from that. So you have to approach it the same way. Take it game by game.”
The Celtics are once again showing a burning desire to reach the Finals for the second straight season, Israel Gutierrez of ESPN writes. They feel a renewed sense of purpose in the playoffs. “Early in the year [the Finals defeat] was fuel, it really got us going,” big man Al Horford said. “We kind of got away from it a little bit. But now that we’re in the playoffs, we’re not addressing it as a group, but when we talk about it individually, it’s something that’s still there.”