Joel Embiid’s Epic Rise: From Rookie to Rumble-Rolling Champion

This discouraging stat sums up Joel Embiid's career originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Philadelphia 76ers square off against the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday evening, looking to keep pace in a highly contested Eastern Conference playoff race.

The 76ers have slipped as of late, losing three of their last five and falling from sixth to ninth in the conference over recent weeks. They now trail the Toronto Raptors by two games for sixth place if they are to get out of Play-In Tournament territory before the postseason begins. Amid their struggles have been injury concerns.

Tyrese Maxey suffered a hand injury, while Joel Embiid hasn't suited up since February due to an oblique injury. Embiid missed Sunday's game as well, reaching a discouraging career mark in the process. With the missed game, Embiid has now missed 485 games during his 10-year career.

What's even worse is that Embiid has only suited up in 485 career games, meaning that he's missed exactly half of his career games due to injury. That said, Embiid is expected to return to the court at some point next week. When on the floor this year, he's produced.