Joel Embiid out for season due to meniscus tear

The Philadelphia 76ers have announced that center Joel Embiid’s rookie season has come to an end because of his torn meniscus.

For 31 games, Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Joel Embiid was otherworldly. The seven-footer from Cameroon had a PER of 24.2 and was averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25.4 minutes per contest.

However, that’s all we got from Embiid this season. On Wednesday afternoon, the 76ers have decided to shut down Embiid for the rest of the 2016-17 NBA season. He has played in 31 games since being the No. 3 overall pick out of the University of Kansas in the 2014 NBA Draft by the 76ers.

Liberty Ballers’ Kyle Neubeck reported that this is a result of Embiid’s most recent MRI on his injured knee. Sixers chief medical doctor Jonathan Glashow stated “Joel Embiid’s left knee appears to reveal that the area affected by the bone bruise has improved significantly, while the previously identified meniscus tear appears more pronounced.”

More pronounced meniscus tears and 7-foot basketball players are not a good combination. Given that the 76ers are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference at 22-37, it’s understandable for them to proceed with more caution around the often-injured Embiid.

Philadelphia knows a thing or 12 about punting seasons. However, they are 12 wins better than they were last year with 23 games left on the slate. The 76ers are now certainly lottery bound with Embiid firmly out of the equation.

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It’s tough to see an on-court talent of Embiid continue to have his promising career ravaged by injuries. He is now the second 76ers rookie to have his season cut shot by injury. Embiid now joins 2016 No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons on the Philadelphia bench in street clothes for the foreseeable future.