Joel Embiid Injury: Updates on 76ers C's Recovery from Foot Surgery

It's been two years since the Philadelphia 76ers selected Joel Embiid in the 2014 NBA draft, but the oft-injured big man is reportedly making progress after undergoing a second surgery on his right foot last summer.

Continue for updates.

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Pierce Comments on Embiid's Recovery

Saturday, July 9

"We know he's healthy," Sixers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce said, via Keith Pompey of Philly.com. "He's been in a great spot the past couple of months ... He's just trying to get in basketball conditioning, [work on his] basketball skills, and feel comfortable on the floor."

"So now, it's just to be around the team and stay in shape," Pierce added.

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Embiid Reportedly Cleared for Scrimmaging

Tuesday, June 21

Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported Embiid has been "cleared to start light scrimmaging in five-on-five settings." Wojnarowski added Embiid is "expected to travel to Las Vegas for the 76ers' entry in the summer league in July but only to practice with the team."

Embiid is not set to play in any NBA Summer League games, per Wojnarowski.

Citing a source on April 4, Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Timesreported "Embiid's lone restriction right now is 'full-contact, full-court scrimmaging.'"

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Embiid Comments on Recovery

Tuesday, June 21

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Colangelo Comments on Embiid's Recovery Timeline

Friday, June 10

"There's no timeline. But until I hear a doctor tell me 'No summer league,' I will always say anything's open," said 76ers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo, via Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com.

Colangelo continued:

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But the likelihood of him playing summer league is nil. I would only say that because of where he is in the progression right now. But if he makes enough progress and the doctors say he's ready to go there's no reason he shouldn't. But having said that, I would say it's a 99 percent chance, maybe a 100 percent chance, that he's not going to play. We just don't want to put him in a situation where he hasn't been playing competitive basketball. We probably want to ease into that and that would mean sometime after summer league.

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On May 19, Moore reported it's unlikely Embiid will play in the Utah Summer League from July 4 to 7 or the Las Vegas Summer League from July 8 to 18.

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Brown Comments on Embiid's Timeline

Tuesday, May 10

76ers head coach Brett Brown said on SportsRadio 94WIP he believes Embiid will play in the 2016-17 season opener.

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Embiid Has Struggled with Health Issues Since Being Drafted

The third pick in the 2014 draft recently returned from his second rehab stint in Qatar, where Sixers Brown said the 22-year-old made strides in the rehabilitation process.

"A little quicker, a little bit more active heart rate, a little bit more getting blood flowing, a little more movement—a little bit more of a little bit more," Brown said of how Embiid looked at practice Monday after returning from rehab, according to Moore.

Aspetar—the facility Embiid worked out at in Qatar—also impressed Brown.

"It's extremely private," Brown said, per Moore. "It's extremely isolated. It allows him to not be distracted by almost anything. It's a community of fellow athletes sharing ideas, sharing stories. He's in an incredible professional environment that helps him."

Embiid has long been considered one of the keys to unlocking Philadelphia's bright future, but his inability to stay healthy since the Sixers drafted him has set the team back quite a bit.

However, Philly has remained optimistic for months that Embiid will hit the court at the start of the 2016-17 season.