Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, top left, and Paul George, bottom right, watch from the bench during the first half of an NBA básquet game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 , in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Joel Embiid and Paul George are not ready to play in a regular-season NBA game, but they practiced and participated in a full-court practice with the 76ers on Friday in what the team considered a sign of progress.
Embiid and George are out with left knee injuries and were ruled out for the fifth consecutive regular season game on Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 76ers play at Phoenix on Monday.
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The NBA fined the 76ers $100,000 for statements that did not accurately convey the players' health status.
READ: 76ers fined $100,000 for misleading statements about Joel Embiid's status
Embiid's next game will be his 434th career out of what will be a possible 806 games for the 76ers at the end of Saturday's game. By comparison, the player selected after former No. 3 pick Embiid in the 2014 NBA Draft, Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has played in 669 regular season games and 52 playoff games.
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“I wish I was as lucky as everyone else,” Embiid said Friday of his history of knee injuries and surgery to repair a torn meniscus on Feb. 6. “But that doesn't mean I'm not trying and I'm not doing whatever it takes to try to be out there, which I will be here very soon.”
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Embiid, 30, speaking at the team's practice facility in New Pullover after practice, made it clear that he is irritated by the constant talk about his desire to play.
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“When I see people say 'he doesn't want to play,' I've done too much for this city, putting myself at risk of people saying that,” Embiid said. “I think it's nonsense…
READ: NBA: 76ers rule out Paul George and Embiid for the fourth consecutive game
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“I've done too much for this damn city to be treated like this. Too fucking done.”
The seven-time All-Star and 2022-23 MVP played for Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer. Embiid, who sat out two seasons due to a foot injury after being drafted in the first round in 2014 by Philadelphia, has averaged 27.9 points with 11.2 rebounds in his career playing only for the Sixers.
Embiid said “everyone has been on the same page” regarding his progress toward returning to regular season games.
Signed as a free agent in July, George said he was cleared to work as a contact earlier this week. He has been recovering from a bone bruise.
“Get that wind. You can't really simulate that level of cardio outside of playing,” George said Friday. “Just being in the mix again has helped me catch my breath, do some sprints, get out to the side of the court doing sprints up and down. That's helping me come back. That's all. That's the last box I have to check. “I’m getting there.”
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George, 34, averaged 22.6 points with 5.2 rebounds in 74 games for the Clippers last season. In 14 seasons in the NBA, he scored 20.8 points per game with 6.3 rebounds in 867 games (819 starts) for the Pacers (2010-17), Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (2017-19) and the Clippers.