This season has been a disaster for Joel Embiid and his Philadelphia 76ers.
Embiid was never able to get healthy and only played in 19 games.
The Sixers recently announced that the former MVP will undergo another knee surgery this summer and should hopefully be in better shape next year.
Speaking about Embiid, Doc Rivers talked about his talent and how unfortunate this news is.
“I mean, it’s tough. This guy is as talented as anyone I ever coached. And it’s just too bad for me,” Rivers said, per Keith Pompey.
“I mean, it tough. This guy is as talented as anyone I ever coached. And it’s just too bad for me.”
– Doc Rivers on Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is set to undergo another knee surgery. Nick Nurse and Doc Rivers expressed concern for the Sixers star. https://t.co/pJA72HuRFU via…
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) April 4, 2025
Rivers coached the Philadelphia 76ers for a few years and was able to get very close with Embiid.
He saw his talent up close and was just as blown by it as everyone else.
As a coach and a fan of the game, he is disappointed to see Embiid face yet another major setback.
When he’s healthy, Embiid is one of the most dominant and unstoppable players in the NBA.
During his 19 games this year, he posted 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
That is a steep decline from last season when he was averaging 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, and it shows just how hurt he was this year.
Hopefully, Embiid comes back next year and is looking like the MVP he once was.
However, there are concerns about how many times he has gotten hurt and how hard it has been for him to recover.
If he returns in 2025-26 and isn’t improved, people will wonder if it is time for him to think about stepping away from the game.
Everyone, from fans to players to coaches, is hopeful but nervous about Embiid’s future.
