Joel Embiid expected to undergo knee surgery, which really sucks

Philadelphia 76ers big man and Twitter GOAT Joel Embiid is likely to undergo knee surgery, which is more bad news for a guy we all love.

If you say to someone that you do not like or appreciate Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid, they could call you a liar. Everyone loves him, whether it’s the way he’s branded himself as a social media class clown (see also: legend) or his stellar play when healthy, there’s a lot to love about the former lottery pick.

What’s not to love is his consistent problem with injuries. Embiid, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury, was hoping to avoid needing surgery to repair the problem. It now appears that won’t be the case and surgery will indeed be needed.

According to Marc Stein, the Sixers setbacks continue.

This sucks, and there’s no other way to say it.

Embiid has carved out a following for himself thanks to his social media antics and his meta sense of self. He then impressed that following but putting up numbers this season that got everyone excited that #TheProcess had finally produced something it long promised — a young star.

There is still a chance that Embiid will bounce back from his injuries an be a star. Basketball fans have been so badly damaged by unfulfilled prophecies that it’s hard to be positive about being yet another setback to such a talented young star.

The surgery was expected but that doesn’t really help anyone feel better. If anything, the delay in surgery is an uncomfortable metaphor to what Embiid’s career has been up to this point — just something we’re waiting for but aren’t sure will ever really arrive in its originally intended form.