Philadelphia 76ers fans received sobering news as the team announced that their star center, Joel Embiid, will be sidelined for at least a month following knee surgery. The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player underwent a procedure to address an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee, with his condition to be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks.

Embiid, who leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 35.3 points per game, has been a dominant force on the court this season, averaging 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. His standout performance came on January 22 when he set a franchise record by scoring 70 points and grabbing 18 rebounds in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

The injury occurred during a game against the Golden State Warriors when Jonathan Kuminga fell on Embiid’s left leg as they both went for a loose ball. This setback adds to the 15 games Embiid has already missed this season.

Unfortunately, Embiid’s absence is likely to diminish his chances of securing a second consecutive MVP award, as new NBA rules require players to participate in at least 65 regular season games to be eligible for individual awards.