Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss the rest of the season due to lingering issues with his left knee, the team announced Friday. Embiid, 30, played just 19 games this season, averaging 23.8 points per game—his lowest since 2020.

Embiid’s knee problems date back to last season when he missed significant time with a torn meniscus. Despite undergoing surgery, he returned for the final stretch of the season and the playoffs but struggled with ongoing knee management. After representing the U.S. in the 2024 Paris Olympics, he missed the start of the NBA season and did not debut until Nov. 12. He has since been in and out of the lineup and recently acknowledged that another surgery may be necessary.

Beyond injuries, Embiid also missed three games following a suspension for a confrontation with a reporter. With their star sidelined, the 76ers have struggled, entering Friday at 20-38 and sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference. The team’s draft positioning is now critical—Philadelphia owes its 2025 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but if it remains in the top six, they will retain it.

Drafted third overall in 2014, Embiid missed his first two seasons due to injuries before debuting in 2016. He has since averaged 27.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game but has never led the 76ers to a conference finals, often due to injury setbacks. Since winning MVP in 2023, he has played in only 58 regular-season games. Embiid has four years and $299.5 million remaining on his contract after signing a three-year extension last September.