Philadelphia 76ers' Nerlens Noel in action during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Monday, March 30, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Nerlens Noel Injury: Updates on 76ers Star's Wrist and Return

Alec NathanNov 9, 2015

Philadelphia 76ers center missed games against the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 9 and Toronto Raptors on Nov. 11 with wrist soreness. He has since returned to the lineup.

Continue for updates.

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Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Clippers

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Friday, Nov. 13

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported noel would have no restrictions against Oklahoma City.

Noel No Stranger to Injury

Noel and the injury bug have become acquainted over the past few years.

He missed the entirety of the 2013-14 season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during his freshman season at Kentucky in February 2013. Then, after appearing in 75 games prior to April 11, Noel missed the final three games of the 2014-15 season after suffering a sprained right ankle against the Washington Wizards.

But when Noel has been healthy, he has operated as one of the NBA's most versatile defenders.

En route to earning first-team All-Rookie honors, Noel averaged 1.9 blocks and 1.8 steals per game last year—both of which led all first-year players. By posting those numbers, Noel joined David Robinson as the only rookies in NBA history to average at least 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, according to Basketball-Reference.com.

The flat-topped big is a centerpiece of the Sixers' exhausting rebuilding process, and his health will continue to be a critical component of the team's quest to improve.

And since rookie Jahlil Okafor isn't the same type of bouncy rim protector on the interior, the Sixers' defensive efficiency stands to improve with Noel back in the lineup.