The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Thursday that star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis. He is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy in Houston on Thursday afternoon. The team stated that further updates would be provided in due course.
The surgery was reported as successful shortly after the 76ers' game against the Houston Rockets tipped off on Thursday evening. Embiid had been feeling ill earlier in the day, prompting medical treatment.
Full recovery from an appendectomy can take up to six weeks. Historical data on NBA players who have undergone the procedure shows an average recovery time of about 23 missed games. With only three regular-season games remaining, Embiid's return this season appears unlikely unless the 76ers make a deep playoff run.
This is another setback in an injury-plagued season for Embiid, who has played only 38 games this year due to knee, shin, and oblique issues. Over the past three seasons, he has missed a significant portion of possible games.
The news comes just as the 76ers, who have clinched a play-in spot, were regaining stability with the returns of Paul George and Tyrese Maxey from their own absences.