Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is reportedly taking the next steps toward his 2024-25 debut.

ESPN’s Shams Charania provided an update on Thursday’s episode of ˆSportsCenter.

“I’m told he is essentially in the ramp up phase of his return process, of his debut process,” Charania said. “He has completed, from what I’m told, multiple 5-on-5 scrimmages in recent days. And so the 76ers want to make sure from a conditioning perspective his knee, his body, is 100 percent before he makes it back out on the floor for his debut. He has workouts scheduled today, and on Friday, to evaluate whether he’s going to be able to make a return as soon as this weekend.

“But this is all apart of what has been described to me as ‘the new normal’ for Joel Embiid. That’s going to include periodic time off at different points during the season. It’s going to include routine check-ups on his knee over the course of the season. And it is all part of the 76ers and Joel Embiid’s new strategy this season on how to keep him healthy when he has never been and that’s for the playoffs.”

The NBA investigated the 76ers and the overall situation surrounding Embiid’s lingering knee issues and fined them $100,000 for public comments.

It caught the attention of teams around the league.

“The league and other teams that I’ve spoken to, they’ve really looked at the commentary around the Joel Embiid injury status,” Charania said. “And that’s including comments from Nick Nurse, Daryl Morey, essentially alluding to the fact that there is no injury, that Joel Embiid’s in great shape, that he lost 20-25 pounds. And that all played a part into the league’s investigation and ultimately the fine of $100,000.

“The league investigation found that there is a left knee condition that Joel Embiid is rehabbing and recovering from to make sure that he is 100 percent this season. But the commentary, alluding to the fact that Joel Embiid is 100 percent healthy, that went against what the league found in its investigation.”

Embiid averaged 34.7 points on 52.9 percent shooting (38.8 percent from three), 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game last season. He missed two regular-season months after suffering an injured lateral meniscus in his left knee in late January.

The seven-time All-Star returned in early April and was able to participate in the playoffs, averaging 41.4 minutes per game in a first-round series against the New York Knicks. Embiid returned to his old form as well with 33.0 PPG and 10.8 RPG.

He then represented Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris, helping the squad win gold.

Unfortunately, Embiid has dealt with the left knee issues in the lead-in to the 2024-25 campaign. On Oct. 13, the 76ers revealed that Embiid would miss the entire preseason due to left knee management.

On Oct. 22, Charania reported that Embiid would miss at least the 76ers’ first two regular-season games as he ramped up for the season. However, Charania also noted that Embiid was “progressing well” and even scrimmaging.

Obviously, the 76ers need a healthy Embiid to compete for a championship. Last year, Philadelphia went 31-8 with him and 16-27 without him.

They are just 1-3 to start the 2024-25 season without him and Paul George.