Through 18 games, Joel Embiid has played in just six games as he recovers from left knee surgery in April and is now also dealing with a right knee issue. The Sixers hope to have the big man back sooner rather than later, but he hasn’t played since Nov. 8.
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Paul George was able to take the court in the victory over the Nets, but that was only the fourth game played out of a possible 18. The trio of Embiid, George and Tyrese Maxey have yet to play a game together. That’s not ideal considering they played just 18 games in the 2024-25 season, finishing only 15 of those games.
Coach Nick Nurse knows he needs Embiid and George for the Sixers to reach their full potential, but he has bigger concerns when it comes to the injury bug.
“Well, listen, I think, kind of like I said a year ago, I think we need you to be the best version of ourselves,” Nurse said before the win over the Nets. “That’s for sure. The worry levels hit me, obviously, when they’re not playing, but now, when we’re missing three or four other guys out of the rotation, right? I think we’re probably looking at a nine-man rotation, and that’s when it’s getting a little tough.”
In Nurse’s opinion, it’s not just the Embiid and George factors. The Sixers are also dealing with injuries to Kelly Oubre Jr., VJ Edgecombe and Trendon Watford. They just got Adem Bona back from a sprained right ankle against Brooklyn, but then lost Andre Drummond to a sprained right knee, leaving the rotation thin on a nightly basis.
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“Once again, we’re hitting the next guy, but that’s really thinning us out,” Nurse added. “Minutes are being executed. He’s doing a lot of things across the board. So we don’t just want Joel and Paul back, we want Kelly and VJ and we have Bona back tonight. We want all the guys back, for sure. I think that evens things out for everyone.”
In terms of Edgecombe, the rookie was working out before the game at Barclays Center, so you have to believe he’s close to returning as the Sixers now prepare to face the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday at home.
“I think again he’s getting on the court and doing some individual training,” Nurse explained at Edgecombe. “He hasn’t done any team work yet, but I think he’s doing well with his on-court training and hopefully he’ll improve quickly.”
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Nick Nurse Addresses Level of Sixers Stilt Injury Concern