Philadelphia 76ers fans may once again need to “trust the process” amid a slew of concerning injury updates on Tuesday.
With the Sixers tipping off their 2024-25 campaign on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced on Tuesday that both star center Joel Embiid and offseason acquisition Paul George would miss the season opener.
Embiid will also sit out the second contest of the regular season on Friday against the Toronto Raptors and the third tilt on Sunday vs. the Indiana Pacers.
In addition to Philadelphia’s pair of perennial All-Stars, it was reported that rookie point guard Jared McCain was “recovering well” from his recent pulmonary contusion.
The Sixers added that the Duke product “continues to ramp up his on-court activities” and “his availability for Wednesday’s game will be updated this evening,” per On Pattison’s Austin Krell.
McCain was selected with the 16th overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft and is expected to act as a depth piece behind the likes of All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and veteran guards Kyle Lowry and Reggie Jackson, among others.
George formed the latest Big Three in Philadelphia with Embiid and Maxey after signing with the 76ers in July.
The 34-year-old nine-time All-Star suffered a hyperextended left knee, leading to a bone bruise, during the team’s preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 14.
Embiid didn’t play in the preseason, as he and the organization are looking to take extra caution in keeping the former MVP healthy for the stretch run and playoffs.
According to a report by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said earlier in October that the organization will attempt to keep both George and Embiid out of back-to-backs during the regular season.
The Cameroonian big man revealed in September that he’d lost 25-30 pounds and was looking to lose more in hopes that it would help him stay healthy for a possible deep playoff run.
Embiid suited up for just 39 regular-season contests during the 2023-24 campaign, and while he returned for all six of the team’s playoffs games, Philadelphia fell to the New York Knicks in the first round.
He’s missed at least one playoff game due to injury in five of the last seven seasons. Overall, Embiid has appeared in 59 postseason tilts with the Sixers out of a possible 67.
In theory, keeping Embiid and George ready for the long haul and the postseason is a smart move. When the 76ers take on Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Wednesday, though, their team will resemble something closer to a hospital ward than a championship roster.
