National Basketball Association

Sixers' Nerlens Noel to have knee procedure

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sixers big man Nerlens Noel will have a “minor” procedure on his left knee, the team announced Friday.

After he reported soreness in the knee, Noel was diagnosed with inflamed plica by team doctors and elected to have the surgery. The injury followed a left adductor strain, which was identified Oct. 6. It is unclear how much time he will miss, with the Sixers opening the season against the Thunder on Wednesday.

Noel, 22, had surgery for a torn ACL in the same knee in 2013, causing him to miss his rookie year, and has missed games each of the last two seasons with injuries.

Noel is the latest in a slew of injuries among Philadelphia’s many highly-touted young big men, with No. 1 pick Ben Simmons out for an extended period after foot surgery and Jahlil Okafor having missed time as a rookie last season after tearing his meniscus. Joel Embiid, the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft, appears set to make his NBA debut this year after multiple foot injuries kept him off the court for two seasons.

The Sixers also announced that Simmons underwent successful foot surgery.

Philadelphia went 10–72 last season, the worst mark in the league.

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