Joel Embiid expresses confidence in knee recovery after playoff exit in 2026

Joel Embiid remains hopeful about his knee health despite another early playoff exit and injuries limiting his season.

Embiid backs knee health ahead of offseason After another playoff run ended in disappointment and with significant time lost to injuries, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid sounded optimistic about his future physical condition. 'I'm as confident as I've ever been,' Embiid stated following a lopsided Game 4 loss to the Knicks, where New York won 144-114 at the 76ers' home arena amid a crowd largely filled with visiting fans. 'I think obviously [my knee] was the biggest concern, and I'm not thinking about it and as long as we keep doing what we've been doing, I won't have to think about it anymore.' He also emphasized his focus on staying available next season, adding, 'I know that if I'm available and I play as much as possible, everything else is going to follow.' ## Injury struggles cast shadow over Embiid's decade Joel Embiid's health has been a persistent challenge throughout his NBA career, with 490 games played over the past ten seasons—an average of 49 per year—excluding the first two full campaigns missed due to injury. Playoff durability has been another concern, and this season was no different as he battled multiple setbacks. Just a month ago, Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy and returned to action two weeks later, yet still missed Game 2 of the current series due to right hip and ankle issues. ## Coach praises Embiid's relentless effort Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse offered high praise for Embiid's dedication and resilience. 'All I can say is I commend him,' Nurse remarked. 'He worked his ass off to get out there and play. I think it was really difficult for him, especially [in Game 3]. I think he felt a little better today than he did in Game 3. But again, I'd just say he gave us everything he could.' ## Playoff highs and late struggles define season Embiid delivered one of the most memorable playoff performances of his career during Games 5 through 7 against Boston in the first round. He spearheaded Philadelphia’s historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit, becoming just the fourth team in NBA history to overcome such a deficit as the lower seed. However, following a late-game collision with teammate Tyrese Maxey in Game 7, Embiid’s health declined sharply during the series against New York. He missed Game 2 and struggled through the remaining three contests, while also dealing with lingering effects from his recent surgery. ## Surgery aftermath impacts performance Embiid detailed how his recent appendectomy affected his body, stating, 'Even the things that I've been dealing with, they've all been related to the surgery.' He explained that returning early left his core weakened, which had ripple effects across his body: 'Everything else is affected. Everything else is out of place. So you're looking at the hip, the adductor, everything's out of place.' He acknowledged the tough circumstances, saying, 'It kind of put me in a position where you don't have time to get ready to play and the little time that you have, you got to go jump straight to playoff basketball.' Despite the challenges, he maintained, 'I feel like I still played as hard as I could. I fought hard.' ## Knee issue resolved, Embiid eyes fresh start For the first time in several years, Embiid believes the troublesome left knee—which sidelined him for all but 19 games last season and limited him to 38 games this year—has been addressed. He expressed confidence that he can now focus on training and skill development during the offseason instead of rehab, potentially beginning Monday once the 76ers' season concluded with a heavy home loss. However, the team’s playoff run ended abruptly with a sweep by the Knicks, who delivered a dominant performance at the 76ers' own arena. ## Knicks dominate with record-setting offense The New York Knicks delivered a masterclass in efficiency, making 12 of their first 13 three-point attempts en route to a seventh straight playoff victory. The victory marked the second time in three years that Philadelphia was eliminated at home in the second round, and the franchise’s 25-year drought in reaching the Eastern Conference Finals continued unbroken. 'They came out hot,' said Paul George. 'They threw haymakers early, and they kept throwing them.' ## Embiid reflects on tough loss and team's future Embiid summarized the team’s shortcomings after the defeat. 'Tonight, I mean, they were just better,' he said of the Knicks. 'I'm proud of this group. I feel like we play hard, we tried, as we have done all season, and at times it's OK to say that the other team was just better.' He stressed the need for improvement across the organization. 'Tonight, they made every shot, they made every single play, we didn't make shots. We just got to get better from top to bottom. Ownership, front office, players, coaches .. everybody just got to get better.' ## Postseason numbers reflect Embiid's impact Despite the setback, Embiid posted strong numbers in the postseason, scoring 24 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists in Sunday’s defeat. Over seven playoff games, he averaged 24 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest. The 76ers’ second-round exit marked the sixth time in nine postseason appearances during Embiid’s decade-long NBA career in which the team failed to advance past the second round.