Joel Embiid and Paul George of the 76ers will not play against the Grizzlies on Saturday

CAMDEN, NJ – Joel Embiid and Paul George will each miss a fifth straight game with left knee injuries when the Philadelphia 76ers host Memphis on Saturday night.

The oft-injured Embiid hasn't played yet this season, although he was fully involved in Friday's practice, including in 5-on-5 duels. George, who has not played yet this season because of a bone bruise in his left knee, also attended all of practice and wrestled with the Sixers.

Embiid missed the entire preseason and hasn't played any meaningful basketball since helping Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics.

During training camp in the Bahamas, Embiid discovered mild swelling in his surgically repaired left knee, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. As part of the plan developed by the 76ers and Embiid for this season, the swelling was discovered during a routine physical and both sides have treated and monitored the knee.

Sources said Embiid completed a 5-on-5 scrimmage session with all of his teammates for the first time on Friday.

Embiid has prioritized returning when he feels fully comfortable with his left knee, and he appears to be close to making his season debut. He was able to play in just 39 games last season, mostly due to knee surgery after tearing the meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30 against Golden State.

“Everyone agreed,” Embiid said at the 76ers’ New Jersey complex. “When your body doesn’t respond well and when your body tells you something [sit out]. I did it. From what I can tell you, I broke my face twice and came back early with the risk of losing my vision. I have broken fingers. I came back anyway. When I see people say, 'He doesn't want to play,' I've done way too much for this city and put myself at risk for people to say that.”

Embiid's absence from the season opener raised suspicions in the NBA, and the league fined the team $100,000 on Tuesday for public statements made by, among others, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and coach Nick Nurse were not compatible with Embiid's health and violated NBA rules such as the league's player participation policy. However, it found that there was no violation of the conditions of participation.

Embiid was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft but missed his first two full seasons due to injuries. Since his first full season in 2016, he has played in 433 of a possible 805 regular season games and just 59 of a possible 67 playoff games.

In the 2023 playoffs, he sprained his right knee, which cost him games against Brooklyn and Boston. He missed two games in the second round in 2022 and another in the first round in 2021 due to various injuries. Additionally, he missed two games early in the 2018 playoffs due to an orbital fracture and another in 2019, also due to knee problems.

“I wish I was as lucky as the others,” Embiid said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not trying and doing whatever it takes to get out there, which I will get to soon.”

Embiid added that he has no regrets about competing in the Olympics. He could return for the Sixers' three-game West Coast swing, which begins Monday against Phoenix.

“It’s really about feeling comfortable and trusting him,” Embiid said. “I want to do my best. I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m scared when I do something or whatever.” [I get hurt again]. I've mentioned it since my last surgery; It was probably the hardest mentally. Mentally, I'm just trying to regain that trust. It used to be easy.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.