Joel Embiid knows ‘the end is near' with NBA career ravaged by crushing injuries

New York Post

28-07-2025

Joel Embiid's basketball career may already be on the back nine.
While speaking on SiriusXM radio, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer speculated that the former MVP may be forced into an early retirement thanks to nagging injuries in his knees and back.
'I think Joel may know that the end is near,' Pompey said. 'It's kind of like explaining to people what he's been going through. Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain and how much they're going through… I feel like Joel Embiid knows that, it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he can't. Maybe he feels as though he can't play to the level he used to.'
Pompey added a qualifier that he could be wrong and that Embiid could have an MVP season, but it is rare for a player to discuss his body breaking down openly.
3 Despite being just 31 years old, Joel Embiid's basketball career may be close to a conclusion.
AP
Embiid, 31, recently participated in a feature with ESPN, as pointed out by Pompey, focusing on injuries, playing through pain, and ensuing mental health battles.
He told the outlet that the mounting injuries had forced him to ask questions.
'Every single year, you start asking yourself questions like, 'Why?'' Embiid said, referencing being injured through key moments of his NBA career.
Embiid adds that the frustration has leaked into his mental health as well.
'I don't know if I can do it again… I can't do another minute,' Embiid added when talking about late-night treatment sessions.
3 Joel Embiid has had a tough time staying on the floor for the 76ers.
Jason Szenes / New York Post
At different points, 76ers medical staff had to pull Embiid from playing in games pregame, including in 2024 when he was unable to jump during a pregame warm-up against the Pacers.
'Feeding into the pressure of you got to play, got to go out there, can't let people down… That's probably one of the reasons why I'm in this position now,' Embiid added.
Later that season, the 76ers faced the Knicks and lost in six games during a Round One series, and he detailed how he was feeling in that Game 6.
'I knew I only had about two quarters… My body just was, like, 'Nope, that's it.''
The 76ers franchise is mostly built around Embiid at this point, although he took a big step back statistically in the 19 games he was able to play.
3 Joel Embiid has been seen in street clothes often during his career due to injuries.
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Embiid averaged 23.8 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 2024-25, down dramatically from the impressive 34.7 points, 11 rebounds, and 5.6 assists he averaged in just 39 games the year prior.
Embiid has played in just 452 regular-season games of a possible 880 since being drafted in 2014.
The 76ers' star is owed $193 million over the next three years, including a player option for the 2028-29 season.