Philadelphia 76ers

Injuries have been an unfortunate part of the 76ers story since the start of “the Process” over a decade ago. Ben Simmons, Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Markelle Fultz, and Joel Embiid are just a few of the young players to miss substantial time due to injury. In a lot of earlier cases, these extended absences were by design to further enhance the team’s prospect of improving through the draft.

The result was the emergence of Embiid as a franchise-level player capable of garnering MVP awards. Still the injury concerns continue to follow Embiid, even if several of his injuries, like a broken facial bone in 2022, are the result of bad luck. Last season, Embiid missed more time with lingering issues with his left knee, stemming from a meniscus tear. Bone injuries were also a problem last season with Robert Covington (knee), Kelly Oubre (rib), and De’Anthony Melton (back) missing a combined 97 games with assorted fractures and bone-related injuries.

Still, Vice President of Athlete Care Simon Rice and long-time Head Athletic Trainer Kevin Johnson have shown they can keep a team healthy and competitive, ranking as the fourth-best medical staff over the past five years. The front office showed confidence in the group, investing in Paul George, a talented player with a lengthy history of injury. Sadly, George is already nursing a bone bruise in his knee after hyperextending it during the preseason. Look for George and Embiid to be handled conservatively throughout the season ahead with routine scheduled off days, particularly around back-to-backs. Neither player will be available on Opening Night.