The ‘City of Brotherly Love’ has long ridden the lows and highs of Joel Embiid’s superstar career. From his dominant performances that earned him MVP honors to the moments of uncertainty surrounding his health, ‘The Process’ represents both the heart and anxiety of the franchise. And right now, his lingering knee issues are casting a dark shadow on his future. The ongoing narrative is familiar yet unsettling: a star player with immense potential battling injuries that could derail their career.

Although Embiid suits up, his struggles with knee pain and swelling are raising questions about how much longer he can perform at an elite level. But the more worrying aspect is the eerie similarity of what happened to Lonzo Ball. No doubt you remember what happened to the promising guard; how repeated knee injuries brought his career to a standstill. But how exactly did we reach this point?

The worrying parallels between Lonzo Ball and Joel Embiid

We will dive into Ball shortly. But it’s imperative to address what popular sports medicine analyst and YouTuber, Dr. Brian Sutterer MD, had to say about Joel Embiid and his “nowhere close to return” situation. “I’m so sick of teams talking about their star players’ health in an unrealistic way,” Dr. Sutterer stated, his annoyance clear in his words.

To drive his point home, Dr. Sutterer brought attention to the promising updates about Ball. “We were repeatedly told Lonzo Ball would make a full recovery and he ended up with a meniscus and cartilage transplant, for goodness’ sake. Now 76ers fans are going through it with Embiid. Fans are stunned to hear me say this about Embiid when it’s been right in front of us for him (and other players) for quite some time,” he finished.

Embiid has a documented history of knee injuries, including meniscus tears. Over time, repeated damage to the meniscus compromises its ability to cushion the joint, leading to increased cartilage wear. This process results in chronic swelling and pain, conditions that are notoriously difficult to manage in professional athletes.

As such, fans and analysts alike have voiced concerns about the 7x All-Star’s condition. In fact, Mike Connor, former Sixers writer for The Athletic, summed up the confusion well. “At this point, would love to read the perspective of an orthopedic surgeon on what could be happening,” he noted.

Pointing out that Embiid had a surgery that was very common with, at most, a 6-week recovery timeline, “The only long-term risk people talk about with it is an increased risk of arthritis decades from now.” Echoing the majority sentiment, Connor said, “I can’t even wrap my head around a mechanism for how he could still be having complications from it.”

And who else but Sutterer to heed the call? “The unknown is how much the meniscus has been damaged over the years and what the cartilage looks like.” This paints a grim picture for Joel Embiid. For one, years of wear and tear have likely accumulated, making management of his condition an “uphill battle.”

In his follow-up comments, the medical expert elaborated on why modern treatment options such as cartilage and meniscus transplants are sometimes taken into account. “Historically, players got microfracture surgery (did not work well). Now things like cartilage and meniscus transplants are sometimes done (Lonzo Ball) but this can’t easily be done for every case.”

Clearly, Dr. Brian Sutterer’s take on the Joel Embiid situation is far from reassuring. Moreover, Lonzo’s case serves as a cautionary tale.

Understanding Lonzo Ball’s knee saga

And a saga it was, indeed! The 27-year-old’s road to recovery is one of the most harrowing stories in recent NBA history. After tearing his meniscus in January 2022, Ball underwent what was thought to be routine surgery. It had just a 6-8 week recovery period. However, complications soon arose.

Persistent pain and swelling prevented him from returning, leading to additional surgeries. Eventually, the eldest of the Balls underwent a groundbreaking meniscus and cartilage transplant in 2023, a last-resort procedure typically reserved for severe joint damage. We don’t have to remind you that the former Laker ended up being sidelined for two full seasons after this.

The underlying problem here was cumulative damage. Each successive surgery weakened the integrity of Lonzo‘s knee. It soon transitioned into cartilage deterioration. And this condition is a critical issue for high-impact athletes! Medical experts had expressed skepticism about his ability to regain the explosiveness required to thrive in the league.

Although the California native is sidelined now, it is thankfully not due to any knee-related issues. But even there, we can’t help but see the warning signs. As such, how do you think Embiid’s situation will affect Philly?

Why a Joel Embiid return matters for the Sixers?

The Cameroonian big isn’t just another superstar in the league. Of course, there is no taking that away from one of the most dominant centers in NBA history. But for Philadelphia, Joel Embiid is the cornerstone of the organization’s title aspirations. Hence, the possibility of his career being hampered by knee issues is devastating for a city waiting for a ring for 41 years!

Sixers fans are no strangers to heartbreak, but losing Embiid to a long-term injury would be particularly crushing. Especially when signs of trouble have been evident for some time. Ball’s experience should serve as a wake-up call. Managing Joel’s condition requires setting realistic expectations and proactive care.

While advancements in medicine have given players like Ball a chance to fight back, the road is never easy. Whether the 76ers can avoid Lonzo’s fate with their big man will depend on their ability to navigate these challenges carefully. Not successfully, but carefully.