Joel Embiid had his best game of the season on Monday night against Atlanta Hawks, but the big man’s enthusiasm resulted in his wallet taking a hit.
The NBA announced on Wednesday that Embiid has been fined $25,000 for an obscene gesture he made during Monday’s game. Embiid gave Atlanta’s Kevin Huerter the middle finger. Embiid was upset that Huerter stole the ball from him as Embiid was dribbling out the clock at the end of the game. Embiid later apologized after realizing the gesture was captured on TV.
Joel Embiid was feeling good after dropping a career-high 49 pts. Was all prepared to dribble out the clock & gloat. Then Kevin Huerter came along & stole the ball. Embiid flipped him the bird, then, after realizing he got caught up, apologized. pic.twitter.com/NvOteE3mRC
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 25, 2020
The league also said that “profane language” Embiid used during a postgame interview contributed to the fine.
Embiid dropped a season-high 49 points against the Hawks, so he may have simply gotten swept up in his outstanding performance. The middle finger could be part of what Kendrick Perkins was referring to when the former NBA big man criticized Embiid for the way Joel carried himself in the game.
