Insider shares major update on return of 76ers' Joel Embiid

The latest update comes after head coach Nick Nurse said on March 16 that he was "still pretty confident" Embiid would be back in the fold before the end of the regular season. At the time, the Sixers star was participating in light on-court workouts but has since graduated to non-contact drills in practice. 

Embiid had been bothered by a knee issue all season long, which finally came to a head in February when the team announced he'd undergo a procedure for a meniscus injury. Even then, the hope was that Embiid would be back in time for the Sixers' stretch run, and as the initial timetable for return nears, he appears to be on schedule. 

It's unfair to expect Embiid to return to his old self immediately, even if that's what the fledgling Sixers need. However, there's also the risk of potentially bringing him back too soon, which goes doubly for a player with an extensive injury history like Embiid. 

Nevertheless, it looks like Embiid will return sooner rather than later. What that means for the Sixers is still to be decided, as a lot can still happen between then and now. Philly has clinched a playoff spot but is just 9-16 without its star, entering Wednesday occupying the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference (39-33).