The Philadelphia 76ers continue a controversial beginning to what was once such a hopeful NBA season. Over the summer, the Sixers saw the signing of Paul George, the extension of Tyrese Maxey, and a gold medal plus an extension for former MVP Joel Embiid.
Three games into the year and neither Joel Embiid nor Paul George has played a minute for the team—though Embiid has managed to collect a technical foul, the team is 1-2 on the season, and the NBA has now fined them $100,000 for their handling of Joel Embiid’s injury situation, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
In a statement from the NBA’s communications team, the league addressed the specifics of the fine.
“The NBA today fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for public statements, including by the President of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse, that were inconsistent with Joel Embiid’s health status and in violation of NBA rules, including the league’s player participation policy,” the communications team said.
“The league’s investigation also confirmed that Embiid has been unable to play in the 76ers’ regular season games this season due to a left knee condition, and therefore his games missed have not violated the Player Participation Policy.”
While the 76ers were proven innocent of violating the NBA’s participation policy, what they were found guilty of was far more damning.
All summer, all through training camp, through the preseason, and into the regular season, the message from the organization has been that Embiid has suffered no setbacks, that he is only out as a part of an “individual treatment plan” and is simply “ramping up” to be able to play.
Here’s Nick Nurse last week after practice discussing Embiid’s progress.
“No, there’s been no setbacks. He’s really active. He’s lost some weight. He’s out on the court, etc. [We’re] just kind of sticking with our plan of making sure we’re getting him in a really good place before we get him playing live.”
On Oct. 10, Embiid underwent what was called by the team a “scheduled assessment of his knee,” the results of which came out that evening.
“As part of his left knee management, Joel Embiid was assessed by doctors on Thursday,” the team said. “Embiid is progressing well and will continue to take part in an individual treatment plan designed to best support his health and wellness for the 2024-25 season. He will not play in this week’s preseason games. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
Now, nearly three weeks later, the NBA has uncovered that Embiid’s left knee condition is severe enough that they feel he missed the beginning of the season legitimately as a result of the injury. Now, it is possible that Embiid has truly not suffered a setback, and the term “progressing well” is relative, but the organization, whether intentionally or otherwise, misrepresented the nature behind Embiid’s absence, as the NBA’s investigation found.
Earlier in the day, just hours before the news of the fine became public, Nick Nurse addressed the media in an unusual post-practice availability. After one and roughly a tenth of questions about Embiid, Nurse shut down all questioning around Embiid, likely signaling the new norm by the team when it comes to discussing their superstar—that being by simply remaining silent.
As for where the team goes from here, the investigation may be over, but the PR nightmare is only beginning for the Philadelphia 76ers; the only solution is either the team suddenly becoming somewhat transparent or, far more likely, the eventual return of Joel Embiid.
