76ers' Joel Embiid to Have Surgery on Knee Injury; Reportedly Will Miss Extended Time

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will undergo surgery to repair a left meniscus injury, the team announced Sunday.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Embiid is expected to miss an extended period of time.

Wojnarowski added that the "door isn't closed" on Embiid returning this season:

Embiid has been in and out of the lineup this season due to a lingering knee ailment. He suffered the meniscus injury in a Jan. 30 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic initially reported on Feb. 3 that Embiid "was diagnosed with a displaced flap of the meniscus in his left knee and is considering surgery."

A displaced flap "is considered to be a type of tear of the meniscus," The Athletic added.

The injuries are a particularly tough blow to Embiid's MVP chances as a player must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for any of the NBA's major awards. With Embiid expected to miss an extended period, it appears he will be ineligible for the award.

Embiid has been arguably the best player in the league this season, averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.8 blocks in 34 games while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from deep.

Losing the big man for any amount of time is a tough break for the Sixers, who are fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 30-18 record. Paul Reed and Mo Bamba have filled in at the 5, but neither has come close to replicating Embiid's success.