Each NBA team’s most devastating injury in franchise history
Most devastating injury in Philadelphia 76ers history: Joel Embiid
Prior to their playoff appearance in 2018, Philadelphia 76ers fans had to endure a lot of losing over the previous four seasons.
Of course, that was the plan, as then-general manager Sam Hinkie used analytics to conclude what anyone with common sense could figure out: teams that stink have a higher chance at getting a good draft pick and that teams with multiple superstars have a better chance a winning a championship.
And thus began “The Process”, which became the trendy way to describe tanking for a number of top lottery picks. Some of those picks didn’t work out (Markelle Fultz, Jahlil Okafor), but the team hit on their No. 3 pick in 2014 when they took Joel Embiid and 2016 No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, even though both men suffered injuries that delayed their respective rookie seasons.
Embiid’s injuries were particularly alarming, especially considering that they checked the boxes for big man red flags. He suffered a broken bone in his foot prior to the 2014-15 season, which kept him out for that entire season.
After he sustained a setback in the rehab the next season, the team shut him down for the 2015-16 season as well. Of course, Philadelphia spent most of that time losing in service of more ping-pong balls, but Embiid’s foot problem gave fans cause to pause.
Even when Embiid finally played games for the 76ers — flashing a top-level post game and showing his prowess as a rim protector — he only appeared in 31 games, as a torn meniscus ended his rookie campaign early.
Though he has become the best player for a now-competitive Sixers team alongside Simmons and recent acquisitions Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, injuries have still been a big part of his story.
Embiid missed time in 2017-18 due to rest and Fultz inadvertently fracturing his orbital bone. He’s also missed time in 2018-19 with knee and back problems, which should complete the big man warning signs bingo.
The 76ers will go as far as a healthy Embiid will take them, but if injuries cut his career short, it could send this franchise into another “Process” period.