Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid may be close to a return.
According to Keith Pomey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers hope to have its reigning MVP back on the court around the second week of April.
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Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid: Practice for the Process
The 76ers star returned to practice last week for the first time since sustaining the injury back in January, as Joel Embiid participated in non-contact drills as he is on the road to recovery.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse has stated that Joel Embiid has made progress but has not given a concrete timetable for his return just yet.
"He went through a little bit of the practice," said Nurse. "All non-contact stuff. He's lifting weights right now. No timeline for his return."
Embiid suffered a Meniscus injury in his left knee that required surgery following the 76ers' matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Jan 30th.
His absence is definitely felt by the team, as the 76ers have faltered in 25 games he has missed. Philadelphia has gone 13-25 without the seven-time All-Star and have fallen to the No.8 in the NBA Eastern Conference.
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Joel Embiid-less 76ers in the Playoffs
Joel Embiid was on a fast track for another MVP season by averaging 35.3 points, 11 rebounds, and a career 5.7 assists per game.
It's hard to imagine a world where the Sixers go far in the NBA Playoffs without Joel Embiid.
Point guard Tyrese Maxey has been able to hold down the fort in his absence, making his first All-Star appearance in averaging 25.9 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game.
However, Maxey will not be enough for the Sixers in their attempt to get to a finals berth, one that the franchise has been clamoring for since 2001.
With just a few games remaining on the season, the 76ers need to do everything they can to stay afloat as they await Joel Embiid's return.
The question is how quickly can Embiid acclimate to the new players around him. The Sixers have gone out and made several trades for notable players. This includes Buddy Hield, who has yet to play with the All-Star center.
If the NBA Playoffs were to start today, the 76ers would be playing the Miami Heat for one of the two final playoff spots out in the Eastern Conference.
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