Joel Embiid Tops NBA What Ifs List

Joel Embiid’s appendectomy has him headed into the 2026 playoffs with another health question hanging over the 76ers. He’s missed 476 career games and played 490, even while putting up MVP-level numbers when he’s available. The injury history has put Embiid alongside NBA’s biggest what-ifs, including Bill Walton, Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, Derrick Rose, Brandon Roy, Yao Ming, Greg Oden, Ralph Sampson and Tracy McGrady. Embiid has still done plenty, with five All-NBA selections and the 2022-23 MVP. But he’s played 66 games in a season only twice, and finished top two in MVP voting both times. Philadelphia knows the deal now: its playoff ceiling depends on whether Joel can actually be on the floor and close to himself.