Joel Embiid hasn’t played a minute for the Philadelphia 76ers, and almost certainly won’t for another full season due to the navicular bone in his right foot that just won’t heal. In early July, it was reported that a setback in Embiid’s recovery would require another surgery, but as John Gonzalez of CSN Philly reports, that surgery hasn’t happened yet.
Gonzalez’s sources say that Embiid isn’t having second thoughts about the surgery, but is “coming to terms with the decision,” continuing to consult doctors and find the right one. He paints the picture of a young athlete nervous about a very serious procedure that Gonzalez calls “hyper-complicated.” It’s understandable that a young player whose career is now on uncertain ground would struggle with all the decisions surrounding a complicated surgery.
Embiid reportedly talked to Kevin Durant — who suffered from a foot injury that required multiple surgeries last season — for advice and moral support. At 21, Embiid is at a crossroads; if this next surgery (for which no date is set) goes right, he’ll be starting his career at 22, plenty of time to fulfill the All-Star potential which made him the third overall pick in 2014. But he’s running out of chances to get healthy. If missing two years and going through multiple surgeries for the same foot injury doesn’t do the trick, maybe nothing will.
(Via CSN Philly)
