Joel Embiid will likely have surgery. We all knew it was coming, even if we pushed it into the dark recesses of our minds so we didn’t have to admit it to ourselves. The team is currently on a west coast road trip, and while they’re out there JoJo is meeting with doctors in Los Angeles.

According to Keith Pompey, Embiid is talking with doctors to figure out “the best next step.” Brett Brown said the team is trying to do it “and really sort of help create an environment while he is with us where he’s a part of the team,” which is why they’re doing it on the road trip. “Ultimately,” Brown continued, “he’s the one that has to feel comfortable with it.”

Pompey noted there are a couple of options:

There are three types of surgeries for a torn meniscus. A partial meniscectomy is the most common. That involves the removal of the torn piece of the meniscus. A meniscal repair is the second type of surgery. That one fixes the damage and helps to prevent deterioration. It’s a more complex surgery and has a longer recovery time. It’s not always an option. The tear has to be in an area that has blood supply.

With the Sixers’ injury/re-injury/recovery issues, I think it’s worth pointing one thing out. Though his surgery was probably the most minor of them all, Nerlens Noel’s knee surgery at the beginning of this season has not yet recurred and he seems to be doing really well with it. What’s different? He rehabbed outside of the team.