Joel Embiid Rejoins Sixers After Brief Absence and Social Media Stir
Joel Embiid will return to the Philadelphia 76ers’ starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He missed one contest earlier in the week because of an illness.
Coach Nick Nurse said Embiid took part in the team shootaround Friday. The center was upgraded from doubtful to probable after that session.
Availability and team reaction
The Sixers initially ruled Embiid out for Wednesday’s game in Washington after he missed the morning film meeting. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey later confirmed to Filmogaz.com that Embiid would not play and would see a doctor.
Embiid responded on social media, calling the team’s earlier listing an April Fool’s joke. His posts, which included the line “I guess they won’t let me play basketball!!”, sparked a Social Media Stir among fans and reporters.
Recent health timeline
Embiid returned from an oblique strain on March 25 that had sidelined him for about a month. Earlier this season, he also dealt with a stress reaction in his right shin and a right knee issue.
He said he was ill during Monday’s loss at Miami. In that game he scored 26 points on 10-of-25 shooting and described his body as not fully present.
Season context and impact
Embiid enters the matchup averaging 26.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 36 games. This season continues a pattern of injury interruptions. He played just 19 games in 2024-25 and missed more than two months in 2023-24 after multiple left-knee surgeries.
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | Games |
| Joel Embiid | 26.9 | 7.4 | 3.9 | 36 |
Playoff positioning
The Sixers sit at 42-34 with six games remaining. They share that record with the Toronto Raptors and hold the tiebreaker for sixth place based on division record.
Both teams stand 1.5 games ahead of the eighth-place Charlotte Hornets. They are also 1.5 games behind the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks. With the standings tight, Embiid’s availability matters greatly.
Joel Embiid Rejoins Sixers After Brief Absence has generated relief across the roster. The team will look to stabilize its postseason path with him back on the court.
