Here’s a look at some of the eye-opening stats you need to know from the start of the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.Joel Embiid and Paul George have been ruled out by the Philadelphia 76ers for their game on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is the second night of a back-to-back. Both Embiid and George are managing a left knee injury.
The Sixers were defeated by the New York Knicks on Tuesday by a final score of 111-99. Embiid, in his first game of the season, scored 13 points to go with three rebounds and five assist in 26 minutes. George had 29 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
The Sixers enter Wednesday’s game against the undefeated Cavaliers with a 2-8 record.
Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke on November 2nd while at Frost Bank Center. Popovich is expected to make a full recovery, but the San Antonio Spurs have yet to determine a timeline for when he will return.
Mitch Johnson is serving as interim head coach in place of Popovich for the Spurs.
Popovich, 75, signed a five-year extension with the Spurs in 2023 worth more than $80 million. Popovich has been head coach of the Spurs since 1996 and has won five NBA championships.
Joel Embiid reopened up the possibility of playing in back-to-backs, perhaps as early as Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I mean, I want to.,” Embiid said. “That’s up to those guys. I know I said I’ll never play back-to-backs, but I’m a troll so I’m sure at some point, I’ll play, but if I feel good. I feel good right now. We’re gonna see, but it’s up to them.”
Embiid made those comments after his regular season debut as he scored 13 points on 2-for-11 shooting in 26 minutes during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 111-99 loss to the New York Knicks.
“I felt OK,” Embiid said afterward. “The first five minutes were rough, but I guess that’s what happens when you haven’t played in a while. I felt after that, I still should be rusty. That’s expected, but I thought overall, I felt pretty good health-wise. I think it’s just my trust in myself. I thought I was a little timid so I stuck with a lot of jumpers just to get myself a little comfortable, but as the games go, and I’ll get back to myself, it’s gonna be easier.”
