Joel Embiid has no timeline for return to basketball activities after undergoing successful surgery in Houston following an appendicitis diagnosis, according to a team official. The Sixers' star center was discharged from the hospital Friday, and he will soon begin the process of returning to the court, though that may not be until after the postseason.
Embiid was initially ruled out due to illness ahead of the Sixers' Thursday night matchup, with the official diagnosis and the need for surgery revealed hours later. Philadelphia fell to the Rockets that night, clearly missing the impact of Embiid, but once again, they are faced with an extended absence.
While there is no official timeline, similar cases typically involve a two- to four-week recovery period, meaning that, at the earliest, Embiid could return sometime during the first round. One of the multiple issues in that scenario is that, while the team is guaranteed a spot in the NBA's play-in tournament, it is not guaranteed to reach the playoffs.
With only two games left in the regular season, the Sixers will continue to play for their season, but in an Eastern Conference with plenty of parity, they face an uphill battle.
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