76ers' Joel Embiid Addresses Absence Against Wizards

All-Star center was ruled out due to illness, but hopes to play in back-to-back against Pistons

Apr. 4, 2026 at 5:26am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and actions of a basketball player, with sharp planes of red, blue, and white colors representing the 76ers' uniform, conceptually illustrating the team's need to balance Embiid's health and availability.Embiid's competitive spirit and injury concerns create a complex challenge for the 76ers as they navigate the NBA season.Today in Miami

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid missed the team's game against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday due to illness, which he says he was not happy about. Embiid said he was 'pissed off' that he was not allowed to play, and pointed to team president Daryl Morey as the one who made the decision. Embiid said he was feeling better heading into the Wizards game, but was not cleared to play. The 76ers went on to defeat the Wizards 153-131 without their star center. Embiid is hopeful he can play in the team's next game against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, but says the final decision will be up to the team.

Why it matters

Embiid's health and availability is crucial for the 76ers' playoff hopes, as he is one of the NBA's elite players when healthy. The team has had to manage his minutes and injuries carefully this season, and his absence against the Wizards highlights the delicate balance they must strike between Embiid's competitiveness and the need to keep him healthy for the postseason.

The details

Embiid said he was already feeling sick before the team's game against the Miami Heat on Monday, but still played 34 minutes and finished with 26 points and 7 rebounds. However, he said he didn't sleep much that night and was not able to make it to the shootaround before the Wizards game. Embiid revealed that his right oblique injury is still bothering him, and that it got hit during the game against the Timberwolves on Friday. Despite the injuries, Embiid has appeared in 37 games this season, a significant improvement over last season's 19-game total.

  • Embiid missed the 76ers' game against the Wizards on Wednesday, April 4, 2026.
  • Embiid returned to the lineup on Friday, April 2, 2026 against the Timberwolves.
  • Prior to that, Embiid had dealt with a right oblique strain and missed 13 straight games.

The players

Joel Embiid

The Philadelphia 76ers' star center, a seven-time NBA All-Star and the 2023 NBA MVP.

Daryl Morey

The president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, who made the decision to hold Embiid out of the Wizards game.

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What they’re saying

“I was pissed off, I wanted to play basketball. I wasn't allowed to play basketball. So, I think this is more of a question [for] Daryl Morey and whoever makes the decisions.”

— Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers Center

“I woke up, didn't sleep until probably, like, 5 in the morning or 6. So, with that, I couldn't make it to shootaround. Then after that, I found out online that I wasn't playing that night. So that kind of caught me off guard, and yeah, that pissed me off, but then again, I guess they make the decisions.”

— Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers Center

What’s next

Embiid is hoping to play in the 76ers' next game against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, April 5, 2026, but says the final decision will be up to the team.

The takeaway

Embiid's competitive nature and desire to play through injuries is clear, but the 76ers must continue to carefully manage his minutes and health in order to keep him available for the playoffs. The team's decision to hold him out against the Wizards, despite Embiid's objections, highlights the delicate balance they must strike to get the most out of their star player.