Sixers' Joel Embiid has 'minor' surgery in Los Angeles

CHICAGO — 76ers center Joel Embiid had surgery to repair the meniscus tear in his left knee on Friday at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles. The Sixers are calling it a minor arthroscopic surgery.

"The overall status of Joel's lateral meniscus and his cartilage is very good," Neal S. ElAttrache, the surgeon who performed the surgery, said in a news release.

ElAttrache removed a small portion of Embiid's meniscus. He said the recovery program is for Embiid to transition into "full weight-bearing in approximately two weeks."

At that point, the team will have a conservative approach to his rehabilitation, he added. Embiid's initial rehabilitation will be in Los Angeles. The Sixers anticipate that he'll resume basketball activities in the summer.

"We are very pleased with his post-surgical assessment and forecast for a healthy return to basketball activity," team president Bryan Colangelo said in a statement.

Sixers coach Brett Brown is elated for his standout. The team wasn't totally sure about the state of his knee until the surgery was performed.

"For him to come out of anesthesia and wake up, what's the news? Tell me about my knee," Brown said, "and learn that it's a very minor thing, for him is where my first thoughts go. … We all look forward to having a really successful summer."

Sixers coach Brett Brown has been in constant contact since the injury.

"He's deserves some luck," Brown said. "He's gone through a lot. He's a different person since his first injury."

Embiid has been sidelined with a torn meniscus and a bone bruise in his knee since Jan. 27. The team announced on March 1 that he would miss the rest of the season. Since that time, he has been expected to have surgery.

"It's just an unfortunate situation, especially with the year he was having," Nik Stauskas said. "We can only imagine what position [the Sixers would be in] if we had him all year long."

Embiid averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.45 blocks this season before being sidelined. He was snubbed for the NBA All-Star Game and was the leading candidate for rookie of the year.

"We just wish him a speedy recovering," Stauskas said. "We all know he's going to work hard to get himself back in shape and get healthy. We are looking forward to having him back next season."

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