Embiid’s Sudden Surgery Sparks Reactions
John Marks, a host on 97.5 The Fanatic, shared his thoughts on Sixers star Joel Embiid just hours before the game against the Rockets. He admitted feeling “really stupid” after hearing Embiid joke about faking an illness.
Earlier, Embiid had been listed on the injury report with an illness, but soon after, it was revealed that he underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. This was particularly critical as the team aimed to avoid a play-in tournament next week.
In a video posted on social media, Marks recounted his surprise: “So, Joel Embiid announced he has appendicitis during the show today, and now he actually has it. I honestly feel pretty foolish for saying what I did.”
He went on to reflect on his experiences in radio, where he thought Embiid’s situation was typical given his medical history. “But turns out the Sixers confirmed he really does have appendicitis and will need surgery,” Marks added. “I feel like an idiot, but that’s how it goes. I hope he’s alright.”
During the Sixers’ game against the Rockets, they faced their third consecutive loss while the team announced that Embiid had a successful appendectomy in Houston.
Earlier in the day, Marks had left the studio and the news broke in the middle of his show confirming Embiid’s absence. Before this incident, Embiid had scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a recent loss to the Spurs.
As the team’s coach, Nick Nurse, mentioned, the timing of this situation was quite challenging since Embiid had participated in a productive practice and photo session the day before. Nurse noted that Embiid had expressed feeling unwell late at night ahead of the game.
This season, Embiid had been averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds over 38 games, but his injury history has forced him to miss substantial playtime throughout his career. In fact, he played only 19 games in the 2024-25 season due to ongoing left knee issues.
The Sixers currently stand at 43-37, sitting two games behind the sixth-place Toronto Raptors with just two more games in the regular season. They are set to play the Pacers on Friday and the Bucks on Sunday.
