Joel Embiid will miss the next four games due to his knee injury, and the franchise center says he wasn't thrilled that the Philadelphia 76ers initially classified him as day-to-day.
Embiid has missed eight straight games with a bone bruise in his left knee. A recent MRI also revealed Embiid has a slight tear in his meniscus.
"I wasn't too happy with the way it was kind of handled before, as far as the day-to-day part," Embiid told reporters in Philadelphia after participating in practice on Thursday. "I was told that I was going to miss at least two or three weeks, so I wasn't happy with the way it was handled.
"I thought keeping my name out there was going to just literally have people think about me all the time, instead of just saying when I was going to be back. So I am happy that they did that today and said that I am out for the next four games."
The Sixers said the medical team is focused on getting Embiid ready to play in a game and minimizing the chances of aggravating his bone bruise. The team is targeting a return against the New York Knicks on March 3.
The Sixers also said rookie Ben Simmons' CT scan on his surgically repaired foot was scheduled for Thursday afternoon and that the team will need time to review it and confer before updating his status. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft has not played this season after undergoing surgery to repair an acute Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot on Oct. 4.
Embiid suffered a left knee contusion on Jan. 20 against Portland. He missed three games, returned to play against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 27 and then sat out eight games.
The center went through a full practice Thursday after participating in a light practice Wednesday.
"I was disappointed but, like I said before, they are making the decisions," Embiid said about missing four more games. "Obviously the plan is making sure I am in shape. Today was actually my first [full] practice in four or five weeks. So I am not in basketball shape."
"There was no swelling yesterday," Embiid added. "This morning, when I came in, there was just a little bit. I just finished practice; I feel good. There is still a little swelling. Got to manage that. I got to be asymptomatic before I can play."