(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers are looking at the possibility of losing Joel Embiid for a very long time.
After suffering a painful knee injury, Embiid recently underwent a medical procedure and will now be re-evaluated in four weeks.
But Kendrick Perkins thinks that Embiid should sit on the sidelines for far longer than just four weeks.
“They need to shut him down for the season,” Perkins said on Tuesday’s episode of “First Take.”
.@KendrickPerkins is calling for the 76ers to shut Joel Embiid down for the season: pic.twitter.com/aPsBwfDD8d
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 6, 2024
According to Perkins, he doesn’t want to risk Embiid coming back and then hurting himself again around April, when the team will need him most at the start of the postseason.
Instead, the Sixers should just take him out of the rotation for the rest of the season and then hope for the best next year.
Perkins’ opinion might make sense from a medical perspective, especially given Embiid’s past, but it’s very unlikely that the 76ers will listen to him.
Embiid was having yet another tremendous season, averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game on a strong 53.3% from the field.
He was likely on his way to another MVP trophy and was helping his team stay in playoff contention.
Without Embiid, Philadelphia’s chances of making the playoffs drop considerably and they could be throwing away the rest of the season.
Still, they need to be mindful of Embiid and his health.
This isn’t his first injury and the worst thing they could do is rush him back only to see him hurt himself again in an even worse, more debilitating way.
There is always the chance that the 76ers perform well without Embiid over these next few weeks.
And there is a chance that he returns healthy and better than ever, ready to quickly join his squad again.
But the future is very unclear for the 76ers right now.
The post Kendrick Perkins Calls For NBA Star To Be Shut Down For Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.