76ers announce star center Joel Embiid out indefinitely with knee swelling

Joel Embiid's Rookie of the Year campaign is officially on hold.

The Philadelphia 76ers announced Monday that Embiid, the No. 3 overall pick in 2014 who missed the last two seasons while recovering from two foot surgeries, will be out indefinitely with swelling in his left knee. He didn't take part in Monday's shootaround and is scheduled to undergo an MRI.

The star center, who has emerged as a fan favorite and face of the franchise for a Sixers team that has taken a significant step forward this season, hasn't played since Jan. 27 — a 32-point, seven-rebound, four-assist outing against the Houston Rockets — due to these lingering knee issues (bone bruise, minor meniscus tear). He has missed 16 of Philadelphia's last 17 games.

Last week, Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo said that the team should have been more clear when giving updates on Embiid's status instead of listing him as day-to-day.

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"We should have just said 'out indefinitely,' even though the treatment was still day-to-day," Colangelo told the media in a press conference on Friday. "But the fact that there was uncertainty, I'll own that. ... But I have to say, there's never, ever been any effort to deceive fans, to mislead fans, to mislead (the media)."

The Sixers (22-36) are 5½ games behind the eighth-place Detroit Pistons in the East, so their decision to err on the side of caution with Embiid comes as no surprise.

On the season, Embiid is averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.5 blocks in just 25.4 minutes. He has been the clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year from Day One, but has only played in 31 of Philadelphia's 58 games, while his teammate and fellow NBA newcomer Dario Saric continues to climb his way up the rookie ladder.

The 76ers also announced Monday that Ben Simmons, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick who won't make his NBA debut until next season due to a foot injury, underwent a minor procedure to "stimulate bone growth" and "accelerate healing." He's expected to resume training by the end of the week.

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