76ers Make Shocking Change to Joel Embiid's Status v...

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By Justin Grasso

Contributing Sports Writer

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Joel Embiid’s status for the Philadelphia 76ers’ matchup against the Atlanta Hawks has changed.

On Saturday, the team ruled the veteran center out early, which continued a concerning trend. On Sunday, the team changed course for the time being. The veteran big man has been upgraded to questionable on the injury report. He now has a shot at playing against the Hawks.

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The Sixers haven’t seen Embiid in game action since November 8. The last time he played, Embiid took the court for a season-high 25 minutes and 57 seconds. He had his best outing of the 2025-2026 season, scoring 29 points on 10-16 shooting, while collecting six rebounds, four assists, and one block.

On the second night of a back-to-back set, Embiid was ruled out, as expected. When the team was set to face the Boston Celtics on November 11, Embiid was downgraded as he was experiencing soreness in his knee.

The Sixers ordered an MRI for the big man. While they didn’t report anything beyond the soreness, confirming that the MRI came back with promising results, Embiid still hasn’t been able to play. When the Sixers faced the Brooklyn Nets on November 28, it was Embiid’s ninth absence in a row.

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This year, Embiid is coming off a second surgery in under two years. After he made his debut during the 2024-2025 NBA season, he struggled to stay on the court throughout the year. Eventually, Embiid opted to undergo surgery on his left knee. He was ruled out for the rest of the season. He ended up playing in just 19 games.

Embiid managed to heal up for the season-opener back in October. He was present for the first two games, taking his first game off on October 27. He returned to the court to play in three of the next four games. Before his recent setback, Embiid played in six games so far this season.

Seeing the court for just 23.3 minutes per game, Embiid has produced 19.7 points per game, while shooting 46 percent from the field. He is also coming down with 5.5 rebounds per game and dishing out 3.3 assists per game.

For now, Embiid is likely viewed as a game-time decision. The Sixers and the Hawks are slated for a 6 PM ET tip.

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