Sixers All-Star big man Joel Embiid says his left knee issue is going to be around for the entire 2019 playoffs.

Embiid has been dealing with tendinitis in his left knee for quite some time now. He didn't play in Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs. The Sixers won that series in five games and will take on the Toronto Raptors in the second round.

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“It's still not there. It's still trying to get better,” Embiid said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “But that's an issue that's going to be there at least all playoffs until I actually get some real time to get some rest and work on myself.

“But, we did a good job managing it. Obviously I only averaged about 24 minutes last series, so this one I'm definitely going to need way more than that.”

Despite not being 100 percent, Embiid still put up monster numbers against the Nets. The two-time All-Star averaged 24.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 blocks while shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Embiid will be matched up against Marc Gasol in the second round. Gasol is a former Defensive Player of the Year. The Sixers are going to need Embiid to play like the superstar he is if they want to defeat the Raptors and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.