The NBA on Wednesday fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for public statements, including by 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 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.
Before the season started, the 76ers decided Embiid would not play both matches of back-to-back games in a case of load management.
Social media and pundits did not take to it kindly.
Kevin Garnett went OFF on the Philadelphia 76ers & Joel Embiid for planning to hold him out of back to backs for the rest of his career:
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) October 21, 2024
“It’s [expletive] amazing that he can get this off,” Garnett said of Embiid. “Back-to-backs are part of the [expletive] of the season. That’s… pic.twitter.com/f0AIyr8XFp
Last week, Nurse was asked if the 2022-23 NBA MVP had a setback with his left knee during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
"No there’s no setback. Again, he’s really active. He lost some weight. He’s out on the court, etc. It’s just kind of sticking with our plan of making sure we are getting him in a really, really good place before we get him playing live," he told the media.
He and Paul George had missed the season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
#Sixers coach Nick Nurse on if Joel Embiid had a setback with his left knee during that Paris Olympics: “No there’s no setback. Again, he’s really active. He lost some weight. He’s out on the court, etc. It’s just kind of sticking with our plan of making sure we are getting him…
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) October 22, 2024
It was also reported that despite Embiid dealing with his left knee and George with a bone bruise, the two still flew to Toronto to get their shots in. The Sixers lost that game, 115-107.
Philadelphia managed to pick up a win in overtime against the Indiana Pacers, 118-114.
On Wednesday, October 30, Nurse faced the press for media availability but did not answer questions regarding Embiid.
"You guys got the update, they were in parts of practice," Nurse said. "On we go."
A reporter tried to follow up, but he was immediately cut off. "I’m not gonna answer," Nurse said abruptly, raising his hand to seemingly block the reporter off before looking somewhere else.
"Go ahead, anybody else got anything? They have given you the updates on that, right? They have given you the updates on Joel."
The two though could possibly make their season debut at home against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, October 31, Philippine time.
