PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers ended a miserable and tumultuous 2024-25 season on Sunday with a 122-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Sixers, expected to contend for a title after the big addition of Paul George, finished 24-58 on the season as they dealt with a ton of injuries and adversity.
The Sixers were unable to see what the trio of Joel Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey were able to do as they all dealt with injuries. Embiid played in only 19 games after dealing with a bothersome left knee issue and the three of them played only 18 games together, finishing 15 of them. They went 7-8 in those 15 games.
Now, the focus turns to the health of Embiid. The big fella just underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee performed by Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow. As the season comes to an end, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey addressed both the physical and mental health of Embiid as they now head into the offseason:
His confidence in Embiid despite him playing only a combined 58 games in the past two seasons
“Look, obviously, coach (Nick Nurse) and I aren’t doctors…but we’re not doctors and we have to rely on the information they give us to make our decisions. It’s not just one doctor, we’re talking about multiple doctors, and Dr. Glashow going in with surgery coming our optimistic makes us optimistic.”
On giving him the extension now rather than waiting for this summer
“I think with that, Paul was a very good fit obviously. We brought him here. He’s only here because he wants to play with the organization, but very specifically with Joel Embiid, and I think for us, that was the best plan to put the best team together, and that’s a group decision. When you make those decisions. A long way of saying, when you have Paul signed long term, it’s important for your MVP-level player to also be signed long term.”
Addressing the report that Morey had to talk team governor Josh Harris into giving Embiid the extension
“I think that’s sort of a lack of understanding how things work in this league. Like, David (Blitzer), Josh, Elton (Brand), Nick, we are a decision making unit. We’re looking for how do we put together the best team to win a championship. There isn’t ever a ‘this person wanted this or that’. We have a group discussion and then make a decision as a group.”
On if he feels like the Sixers can help Embiid mentally
Before getting into Morey’s quote, Embiid has stated in the past that his mental health has been a challenge for him to get over when it comes to this bothersome knee injury.
“As much as it was hard on the coaching staff or the other players on the team that he wasn’t available, it was hardest on Joel. I mean, he takes a lot of pride into being the MVP level player he can be and what that means for the fans in Philly. I do think he takes to heart what Philly fans care about and what they want him to be which, I think, is great because it puts high expectations–and I would say in terms of details of what he’s doing personally to put himself in the right mental state, that’s not something I’d be privy to share. You’d have to ask Joel, but I do know that resources are always provided to all our players to be able to play from both a physical and mental perspective at the highest level possible. We do think that’s a very important aspect to have those resources available.”
Another comment on Embiid’s injury status
“I’m privy to this because I’m on all the calls with our medical staff. Coach a little less, unfortunately, because he has to talk every day which puts him in a tough spot, but this has been a very complex situation for Joel, for the medical staff, for outside folks like Dr. Glashow and others to try to figuring out the right next step to make sure we can put him in the best way to help our team win a championship is not straightforward and that’s why you do get, I think, different reports because it’s one where you do need to gather a lot of data and opinions, and then make the right choice. We feel good about the choice. I know Joel does about the choice that was just made, and Dr. Glashow going in and feeling very optimistic post that. I think that is good.”
On why arthroscopic surgery was the decision made
“I think it’s hard for me to address that except that I know it was after lots of discussion and consultation, that was the best plan to go forward.”
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Daryl Morey talks physical, mental health of Sixers star Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers ended a miserable and tumultuous 2024-25 season on Sunday with a 122-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Sixers, expected to contend for a title after the big addition of Paul George, finished 24-58 on the season as they dealt with a ton of injuries and adversity.
The Sixers were unable to see what the trio of Joel Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey were able to do as they all dealt with injuries. Embiid played in only 19 games after dealing with a bothersome left knee issue and the three of them played only 18 games together, finishing 15 of them. They went 7-8 in those 15 games.
Now, the focus turns to the health of Embiid. The big fella just underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee performed by Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow. As the season comes to an end, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey addressed both the physical and mental health of Embiid as they now head into the offseason:
His confidence in Embiid despite him playing only a combined 58 games in the past two seasons
“Look, obviously, coach (Nick Nurse) and I aren’t doctors…but we’re not doctors and we have to rely on the information they give us to make our decisions. It’s not just one doctor, we’re talking about multiple doctors, and Dr. Glashow going in with surgery coming our optimistic makes us optimistic.”
On giving him the extension now rather than waiting for this summer
“I think with that, Paul was a very good fit obviously. We brought him here. He’s only here because he wants to play with the organization, but very specifically with Joel Embiid, and I think for us, that was the best plan to put the best team together, and that’s a group decision. When you make those decisions. A long way of saying, when you have Paul signed long term, it’s important for your MVP-level player to also be signed long term.”
Addressing the report that Morey had to talk team governor Josh Harris into giving Embiid the extension
“I think that’s sort of a lack of understanding how things work in this league. Like, David (Blitzer), Josh, Elton (Brand), Nick, we are a decision making unit. We’re looking for how do we put together the best team to win a championship. There isn’t ever a ‘this person wanted this or that’. We have a group discussion and then make a decision as a group.”
On if he feels like the Sixers can help Embiid mentally
Before getting into Morey’s quote, Embiid has stated in the past that his mental health has been a challenge for him to get over when it comes to this bothersome knee injury.
“As much as it was hard on the coaching staff or the other players on the team that he wasn’t available, it was hardest on Joel. I mean, he takes a lot of pride into being the MVP level player he can be and what that means for the fans in Philly. I do think he takes to heart what Philly fans care about and what they want him to be which, I think, is great because it puts high expectations–and I would say in terms of details of what he’s doing personally to put himself in the right mental state, that’s not something I’d be privy to share. You’d have to ask Joel, but I do know that resources are always provided to all our players to be able to play from both a physical and mental perspective at the highest level possible. We do think that’s a very important aspect to have those resources available.”
Another comment on Embiid’s injury status
“I’m privy to this because I’m on all the calls with our medical staff. Coach a little less, unfortunately, because he has to talk every day which puts him in a tough spot, but this has been a very complex situation for Joel, for the medical staff, for outside folks like Dr. Glashow and others to try to figuring out the right next step to make sure we can put him in the best way to help our team win a championship is not straightforward and that’s why you do get, I think, different reports because it’s one where you do need to gather a lot of data and opinions, and then make the right choice. We feel good about the choice. I know Joel does about the choice that was just made, and Dr. Glashow going in and feeling very optimistic post that. I think that is good.”
On why arthroscopic surgery was the decision made
“I think it’s hard for me to address that except that I know it was after lots of discussion and consultation, that was the best plan to go forward.”
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Daryl Morey talks physical, mental health of Sixers star Joel Embiid
