By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will need surgery after concluding his Playoffs campaign, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
An MRI confirmed a right thumb ligament tear, noted Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Meanwhile, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers mentioned he hopes Embiid can continue playing through the injury, as relayed by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Embiid, 28, indeed intended to keep himself available awaiting the MRI results. He has produced 26.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per contest over the first four games of the first-round series opposite the Toronto Raptors. His side is up 3-1 as the best-of-seven series shifts back to Philadelphia for Game 5 on Monday.
The Cameroonian big man averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game over 68 appearances in the Regular Season. Powering the 76ers to the postseason for the fifth year in a row in the sixth NBA campaign of his career elevated him to the Kia NBA MVP shortlist along with a couple of Europeans, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
Coming out of Kansas in 2014, Embiid was selected with the third overall pick by the Sixers, trailing only Jayhawks teammate Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. He has since become a five-time NBA All-Star, named three times in both the All-NBA Second Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and added on individual accomplishments leading all scorers in the 2021-22 Regular Season.
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