If Joel Embiid isn’t playing in February 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers could petition for a medical NBA retirement. Embiid will miss the rest of this season after the team shut him down.  “The determination on whether Embiid suffered a career-ending injury would be made by a physician selected by the NBA and the players’ association,

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss the remainder of the season due to his lingering left-knee issues, the team announced Friday.

Joel Embiid is done for the season, at last shut down following the lingering effects of knee surgery. The final answer on the perpetual will-he or won’t-he play tonight question that canvassed the 76ers’ season came Friday when the Sixers said Embiid was “medically unable to play” and will focus on treatment and rehabilitation of his left knee.