Joel Embiid Cleared to Begin Scrimmaging

Joel Embiid has been cleared to start participating in "light" 5-on-5 scrimmages, according to a report from Yahoo Sports.

Joel Embiid practices before the Sixers played the Los Angeles Clippers on February 8th, 2016 | Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Sixers center Joel Embiid has reportedly been cleared to start participating in “light” 5-on-5 scrimmages | Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports’ “The Vertical”, Sixers center Joel Embiid has been cleared to start participating in “light” scrimmaging in 5-on-5 settings.

Embiid, 22, was selected by the Sixers third overall in the 2014 NBA draft just days after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in the navicular bone in his right foot.

Embiid then suffered a setback last summer, eventually requiring a second surgery, this time including a bone graft procedure, to repair the foot in August.

Embiid has steadily been increasing his level of activity in recent weeks, having been present at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for the majority of the Sixers’ pre-draft workouts.

The Sixers have been cautiously optimistic about his return, although Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo recently announced that Embiid would not participate in summer league play.

Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in 23 minutes per game as a freshman at Kansas, showing enough to become the heavy favorite to be selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers before finding out about the navicular bone injury. Embiid last played a game of competitive basketball on March 1st, 2014. He missed the remainder of his only season in college because of a stress fracture in his back.

Derek Bodner covers the 76ers for Philadelphia magazine. Follow @DerekBodnerNBA on Twitter.