Joel Embiid’s 2024-25 season has been a real rollercoaster. The Sixers’ star center has only managed to play 13 out of the first 44 games, battling a slew of injuries along the way. For fans who’ve stuck with Philly through thick and thin, this isn’t exactly a surprise. Since the 2014 draft, Embiid has dealt with a laundry list of injuries that have kept him on the bench more than anyone would like. It’s a mix of bad luck and the lingering effects of those previous setbacks that continue to haunt him.

But this season, things have been especially tough. The Sixers have come under fire for their lack of clarity around Embiid’s injury status. The NBA even stepped in, fining the team for their “inconsistent” updates on his availability. He’s out against the Kings as well on Wednesday. His left knee isn’t letting him catch any breaks.

You can’t help but wonder if Philly will ever see a fully healthy Embiid and if they’ll ever get the consistency they need. Because a stat just left Philadelphia fans speechless.

A new stat about Embiid popped up during the 76ers’ dominant win over the Lakers. Get this: Embiid has spent nine years in the NBA, playing 446 games—but he has sat out a staggering 400 due to injuries and suspensions. Yeah, you read that right. With all the criticism around him, fans had to add more.

Fans feel frustrated, can’t keep giving Joel Embiid more chances

One of the fans out right wrote, “Get him out of the league.” Joel Embiid’s talent is undeniable, but when your star player spends almost as much time on the bench as he does on the court, fans start to ask the tough questions. They want consistency, they want reliability, and most importantly, they want to see their MVP-caliber player in action more than they see him in street clothes.

“Missing 47% of your NBA games is crazy work” tweeted another fan. Missing nearly 47% of NBA games raises a massive red flag for a player considered the face of the franchise. That’s crazy when you consider the team has relied on him to lead the way for nearly a decade.

His recent absences have hurt the 76ers even more. For a team that’s always been on the edge of championship contention, every game Embiid misses feels like an opportunity lost.

Another netizen cracked a joke. “If he wills he can miss whole season waiting on the bench 🤣🤣” they wrote. Since entering the league in 2014, Embiid has missed an average of 29.5 games per season due to various injuries. His body, especially his knees and back, has been a major point of concern throughout his career but everyone’s had enough.

No one wants to constantly wonder “what if,” but fans can’t help joking about a situation that’s become way too familiar.

“Dude legit gets paid millions to be on vacation for half of his job…” tweeted another fan. Let’s break it down. The Philadelphia 76ers structured Embiid’s $192 million max contract to pay him as one of the league’s top players. But here’s the catch: his talent is undeniable when he’s on the court, but his frequent absences make it seem like he’s collecting a huge paycheck without fully earning it—at least from a fan’s perspective.

Another user chimed in with “Guy with the best PTO plan in his job”. Companies usually offer PTO, or paid time off, as a benefit so employees can take breaks from work. But in this case, fans are using it sarcastically to highlight how often Embiid sits out while still collecting millions.

But from a financial standpoint, Embiid’s contract doesn’t change based on his availability. Whether he’s playing or sitting on the bench, the paycheck remains the same.