The NBA is ‘likely’ to open an investigation into the Philadelphia 76ers regarding the involvement of center Joel Embiid, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
The report does not specify what rules the 76ers may have broken, or precisely what the potential investigation would focus on. It also does not take into account the potential consequences if a violation is found.
The report was released hours before Philadelphia’s regular season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks. Embiid and his new All-Star teammate Paul George were both ruled out of the game. Embiid was ruled out without a specific injury designation for what the team describes as “left knee management.”
George suffered a bone bruise with no structural damage during the preseason. His absence should not last long. Embiid is returning from a season in which he missed 43 games, most due to a season-ending injury to the meniscus in his left knee that required surgery.
Why isn’t Embiid playing in Philadelphia’s season opener?
Embiid returned from his injury in time for Philadelphia’s first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks which they lost in six games. He then played for Team USA in Paris during the Summer Olympics. He spent the preseason with the 76ers, citing “left knee management” and will miss Philadelphia’s season opener. He has no injuries beyond knee management.
General manager Daryl Morey said recently that he doesn’t anticipate Embiid or George playing in many back-to-back games, if any.
“We’re going to be smart about it.” Morey said, according to ESPN in an article published on October 14. “Part of being smart is that Paul and Joel probably don’t play back to back much, if at all.”
Head coach Nick Nurse was asked Tuesday about Embiid’s rest plan and why Embiid won’t play Wednesday against the Bucks despite no specific injury designation.
Nick Nurse said there have been no setbacks for Embiid this offseason and repeatedly reiterated many of the same things we’ve heard regarding his health.
When asked how we reconcile their message with Joel not being ready to start the season, this is what he said: pic.twitter.com/cH4IldM4nV
– Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) October 22, 2024
“I don’t know what to tell you,” the nurse said. “He’s training. He looks good. He’s making progress. He’s not quite ready yet. …
“I don’t know what else to tell you.”
Are the 76ers violating NBA policy?
THE The NBA implemented rules in 2023 targeting the practice of load management star players resting when not injured. Teams are subject to fines for various policy violations this includes prohibiting teams from sitting multiple star players in the same game when they are not injured and resting star players during nationally televised games. Philadelphia’s game against Milwaukee on Wednesday will be televised on ESPN.
Embiid, a seven-time All-Star and 2023 NBA MVP, has been plagued by foot and knee injuries throughout his career. He missed his entire first two seasons due to injury after being selected third overall by the Kansas 76ers in 2014.
Since then, he has played in 51 games or fewer in four of the eight seasons he has played. He never played more than 68 games in a single season.
