Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid is not playing to start the season because his knee is "unstable," according to the New York Times.
"One league source, with knowledge of the NBA’s investigation, said that while it is true Embiid did not suffer a new injury to his surgically repaired left knee during the Olympics, the knee was unstable enough that there was concern about further damage being done if Embiid had played last week," the report says. "The Sixers had listed 'left knee injury management' as the reason for his absences, and league sources say that determination was found to be accurate by the NBA. Embiid, in their determination, is dealing with a legitimate left knee issue."
Embiid, 30, had surgery to repair a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee last February.
"There is a chance of arthritis developing," Joe Giglio said on Wednesday's 94WIP Midday Show with Hugh Douglas, as they reacted to the New York Times report. "The more you keep trimming that meniscus, there's no padding left and you can develop early arthritis. That's what it feels like we're dealing with, he has a chronic knee injury...That sounds even when he comes back, we're not going to be sure he's OK."
One day before the regular-season began, the Sixers announced Joel Embiid will miss the first three games and then be re-evaluated before Wednesday's game against the Pistons. On Monday, Philadelphia ruled Embiid out for Wednesday's game.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse appeared frustrated on Tuesday, refusing to answer questions about Embiid's injury.