The 2023-24 NBA season for Joel Embiid was a period of remarkable individual achievement, marked by career-high scoring performances and the setting of new franchise records. However, it was also a season that presented significant challenges, including a knee injury that ultimately sidelined him for a substantial portion of the schedule. This season encapsulated the highs and lows of an elite athlete, showcasing his unparalleled dominance when healthy,
alongside the physical demands of professional basketball.
Explosive Scoring and Record-Breaking Games
Embiid started the 2023-24 season with an immediate impact, demonstrating his scoring prowess. On November 6, 2023, he posted 48 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 146-128 victory over the Washington Wizards. During this game, he scored an incredible 29 points on 10-for-10 shooting in the third quarter, a rare feat that placed him alongside LeBron James and Klay Thompson as the only players since the 1997-98 season to achieve 10-for-10 or better shooting in a single quarter.His dominance continued throughout the early part of the season. On December 6, Embiid scored 50 points, along with 12 rebounds and seven assists, in a 131-126 win, also against the Washington Wizards. Just two weeks later, on December 20, he scored a season-high 51 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 127-113 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. These high-scoring outbursts underscored his offensive capabilities and his ability to carry his team.
Sustained Elite Performance and Franchise Records
The 2023-24 season saw Embiid not only achieve individual game highs but also sustain an elite level of play over extended periods. On December 15, 2023, he put up 35 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks, two assists, and two steals in a 124-92 win over the Detroit Pistons. In this game, he surpassed Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive 30-point and 10-rebound games in 76ers history, reaching nine straight.His consistency was further highlighted by recording his 12th straight game with 30 or more points and 10-plus rebounds on December 20. This streak was the NBA's longest since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar achieved 16 straight games for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971-72 season. Embiid finished the month of December averaging an astounding 40.2 points per game, 12.6 rebounds per game, and 4.9 assists per game, with shooting splits of 60.6% from the field, 42.3% from three-point range, and 92.1% from the free-throw line. These numbers made him the first player in NBA history to achieve such averages for a calendar month.
Injury and Season Interruption
Despite his record-setting performances, the 2023-24 season was ultimately impacted by injury. Embiid missed the start of the season due to a knee ailment. He returned on February 4, 2025, after a left knee injury had sidelined him for the previous 15 games. In his return, he recorded his eighth career triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 118-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks.However, the knee issues persisted. On February 28, the 76ers announced that Embiid would miss the remainder of the season due to ongoing problems with his left knee. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on April 11. In the 19 total starts he made for Philadelphia during the 2024-25 NBA season, he averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, a testament to his impact even in a shortened and injury-affected campaign.
