While speaking on SiriusXM radio, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer speculated that the former MVP may be forced into an early retirement thanks to nagging injuries in his knees and back.
“I think Joel may know that the end is near,” Pompey said. “It’s kind of like explaining to people what he’s been going through. Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain and how much they’re going through… I feel like Joel Embiid knows that, it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he can’t. Maybe he feels as though he can’t play to the level he used to.”
https://nypost.com/2025/07/28/sports/joel-embiid-knows-end-is-near-with-nba-career-ravaged-by-injuries/Grant Afseth of Fastbreak Journal has reported that there is concern about Embiid ever being able to fully regain or sustain the level of play that made him a superstar. Afseth also reported that there is concern about Embiid potentially needing another knee surgery in the future.
"Sources with knowledge of Embiid's situation have privately expressed concerns to FastbreakJournal.com about whether he can fully regain, and more importantly, sustain his prior level of play," Afseth wrote. "One source also indicated there is internal concern about the possibility of Embiid requiring another procedure on the same knee down the line, which has only heightened unease about his long-term outlook."
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/report-76ers-receive-very-concerning-joel-embiid-update-2105139