The Philadelphia 76ers’ season is quickly becoming a rollercoaster of uncertainty. And at the heart of it is Joel Embiid’s baffling injury saga. The MVP has been in and out of the lineup because of left knee injury management, leaving fans frustrated and the team scrambling for answers. Add to that a three-game suspension following his infamous shove of columnist Marcus Hayes, and it’s been anything but smooth sailing for the big man.

As if the situation wasn’t already puzzling, Nick Nurse admitted he was blindsided about Embiid’s recent absence. Speaking to the media after Embiid was suddenly ruled out of the Nets game, Nurse candidly shared, “I was not aware. I am aware now, yeah.”

He later explained that swelling in Joel Embiid’s knee had forced the last-minute decision, with his status shifting from questionable to out. Yet, even days later, ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Hornets, Nurse seemed no closer to clarity, responding to questions about the 7-footer’s status with a resigned, “No. Don’t know about that… Try and ask me after the game. See if I have an update. But I don’t have any now.”

Additionally, reporter Ky Carlin has just reported, “Nick Nurse says he doesn’t expect Joel Embiid to play tomorrow, but he’s not quite certain on that. They’ve gotta check on both him and Paul George when considering it is a B2B.” 

Now, Joel Embiid self-declaring himself out of back-to-backs earlier, is in itself a blood-boiler for analysts and fans alike. After which, Nick Nurse’s apparent ‘cluelessness’ about his team’s talisman creeps in… Needless to say, this lack of transparency and confusion has triggered a wave of concern among fans. And the Sixers faithful took to X to vent their frustrations at this tiring back and forth.

Fans slam Sixers over Nick Nurse’s cluelessness and Embiid drama, as they witness Philly’s plan “failing miserably”

“He’s the last guy they tell,” one fan said, getting straight to the point.

However, this underscores the growing belief among fans that Nick Nurse continues to be in the dark. It really is not ideal, especially given the season the 76ers were supposed to have. The least the franchise can do to at least give a semblance of having their affairs in order is to have their coach aware of matters that a coach should know!

Another fan, though, directed a scathing remark at both Nurse and Embiid. “Haha dudes a loser. HC and Embiid.” While the sarcasm was hard to miss, the frustration behind those words was just as apparent. It echoes the sentiment of many who see the pair as emblematic of Philly’s ongoing struggles. Critics blame Coach Nurse for his perceived lack of authority, while they see the 7x All-Star as unreliable because of his recent injuries and controversies.

Yet this fan couldn’t help but notice Nick’s awkwardness when pressed about Embiid’s status. “LoL he really didn’t want to answer that question.” His supposed discomfort and lack of concrete answers have many wondering if he’s just as annoyed as they are!

This next fan, though, took the opportunity to impart some advice to the franchise. “forget embiid is my advice. if the plan was to rest him to keep him fresh for the playoffs its failing miserably. he’s getting no healthier and we’re not a playoff team,” they commented. Although the team noted they would be very careful with managing Joel’s schedule, it seems their approach has not produced favorable results.

As such, this individual highlights the futility of resting him when the team’s playoff hopes seem dim. It reflects an unfortunate growing sentiment among some fans that the team should move on from relying on Embiid.

And finally, this fan wrote, “Embiid’s career is over. Especially for the Sixers. He will never play another minute for the franchise. He will barely play much at all for anyone else either as he will give it one more try for another team next year to only have the knee give out again and it will all be over.”

This dramatic take echoes the worst fears of fans—Joel Embiid’s recurring knee issues signal the beginning of the end for his career. It also implies skepticism about Embiid’s long-term future in Philadelphia, further fueling trade rumors. It’s clear that this uncertain path has left fans disheartened and divided.

As the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ struggles to find stability, one thing is clear: the situation is testing the patience of even the most loyal fans. There’s no telling how much brotherly love will be left in them if the Sixers don’t find a solution fast!