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Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid Delaying Foot Surgery

By Chase Senior

Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (left) talks with general manager and president Sam Hinkie (right) before a game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (left) talks with general manager and president Sam Hinkie (right) before a game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to CSNPhilly’s John Gonzalez, Joel Embiid is still scheduled to undergo surgery on the navicular bone in his right foot in the near future. Embiid and his camp have been holding out, though, as the big man has been trying to come to grips with missing a second consecutive season.

Yesterday we wrote about the mystery surrounding the talented Philadelphia 76ers center, and the fact that he hadn’t undergone surgery on the navicular bone in his right foot after it was announced about a month ago that he would receive surgery within “7-10 days.”

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Here is what a source close to the situation had to say to Gonzalez:

"The holdup has led to speculation in the media. When asked about the delay, one source said it was partly because Embiid — who is 21 and who, according to president/general manager Sam Hinkie, has been pain-free — was coming to terms with the decision. The source indicated that Embiid and his confidants wanted more time to review the matter and select a doctor. A doctor has been chosen, though the source declined to provide that information.The source said Embiid also reached out to Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant. The Thunder starunderwent a bone graft on his right foot in late March. That surgery was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, home to one of at least 12 doctors the Sixers and Embiid have so far consulted about Embiid’s hyper-complicated situation."

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You have to feel for Embiid, who left his home in Cameroon at the ripe age of 16, so that he could come to the United States and pursue a basketball career.

Embiid got off to a terrific start at the University of Kansas, where he quickly ascended up draft boards as the season progressed. As a freshman, Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 28 games, but in March 2014, he suffered a stress fracture in his back, causing him to miss the Big 12 tournament and NCAA tournament.

Embiid then declared himself eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft and was widely considered to be chosen with the No. 1 overall selection, but just prior to the draft, he underwent surgery on the broken navicular bone in his right foot, causing him to slip to the Sixers at No. 3.

That aforementioned surgery caused Embiid to miss the entire season and to make matters worse, his brother, Arthur passed away this past October.

Embiid was supposedly making significant progress towards making it back to the court during the NBA Summer League this summer.

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    • He was participating in workouts at the Sixers practice facility, which had the Sixers brass excited about a possible return, thus ramping up the Sixers rebuild, but a CT scan in June showed that his navicular bone wasn’t healing as quickly as anticipated.

    Now, Embiid is set to undergo another surgery that will sideline him for a second straight season.

    For a 21-year old to stay positive during such a taxing time like this is certainly an arduous task, but it’s a good sign that Embiid has reached out to Thunder superstar, Kevin Durant, who underwent a bone graft on his right foot in March.

    Embiid has such an exuberant personality and all he wants to do is play basketball, but injuries have riddled the early parts of his career.

    Here’s to hoping the talented big man can get healthy, because he has a boatload of potential.

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