New Joel Embiid Rumors on Injury Status for 76ers vs. Celtics in 2026 NBA Playoffs

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid reportedly won't be back any time soon.

Appearing Thursday on ESPN's NBA Today, Shams Charania reported Embiid is expected to miss the start of the Sixers' first-round playoff series with the Boston Celtics.

"He's only a week-ish removed from surgery for that appendicitis," Charania said. "So he's very much in the recovery phase of this. Once you recover, then you have to have a separate rehab part of the process as well."

Embiid's 2025-26 season has again been defined more for his time off the court than his play on it. The superstar center played just 38 games this season, impacted by left knee issues and an oblique strain.

His regular season came to a close on April 9 when he was diagnosed with appendicitis and had to undergo an appendectomy. It came as the Sixers were battling for an automatic playoff berth and hoping to avoid the Play-In Tournament.

Injuries have been the recurring storyline of Embiid's otherwise decorated career, and countless injuries have either cost him postseason games or limited his effectiveness come the playoffs. In that regard, the 2025-26 season played out like the fifth or sixth entry in an ongoing movie series.

It was another disappointment for a Sixers team that was hoping for a full season of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. But Embiid struggled to stay healthy, George was suspended for 25 games and even Maxey missed three weeks due to a right finger tendon strain.

There have been bright spots for the Sixers. Rookie V.J. Edgecombe looks like a bonafide future star. Dom Barlow went from a two-way contract to looking like a long-term complementary piece. Maxey had the best season of his career.

Now, the Sixers will continue to press on with Andre Drummond and Adem Bona holding down the fort at center as they enter their first-round series against the Celtics as +660 underdogs at FanDuel Sportsbook.