NBA investigating 76ers over Joel Embiid’s playing status
Apr 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during overtime in game 5 of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers are in some hot water with the NBA over the status of center Joel Embiid.
The NBA is likely to launch an investigation into the 76ers regarding the player participation of Embiid, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The move comes after Embiid sat out the entire preseason and is also set to miss the first three games of the regular season with what the team is calling left knee injury management.
The NBA is likely to commence an investigation into the Philadelphia 76ers surrounding the player participation of All-NBA center Joel Embiid, sources told ESPN. More to come on NBA Today on ESPN right now. pic.twitter.com/WwZNHgLLcl
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2024
This is essentially a load management investigation, and it suggests the league thinks Embiid should be healthy enough to play. The NBA is also aware that it is not a great look for Embiid to have been healthy enough to play in the Paris Olympics, but is not fit to start the regular season just over two months later.
Embiid also publicly said earlier this month that he will likely never play in back-to-backs again due to his long history of knee injuries. That is a sensible stance from the 76ers, but it is probably not something the NBA wants him saying publicly.
The 30-year-old Embiid was limited to 39 games during the 2023-24 season after suffering a left meniscus tear in late January that required surgery. Injuries have been an issue for him in each of his last three playoff runs, and he and the Sixers are trying very hard to keep that from happening again this season.