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The NBA is currently investigating why Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid did not participate in the team's nationally televised season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The league confirmed the investigation on Thursday as part of its player participation policy, which was implemented last season. Under this policy, any time a star player—defined as someone who has been an All-Star or All-NBA selection in any of the past three seasons—misses a game, the NBA can initiate an inquiry to ensure compliance with its rules. This can involve independent medical reviews to assess player availability. Embiid qualifies as a star under these guidelines.
Embiid missed the preseason
Embiid, who recently helped the U.S. secure Olympic gold in Paris, missed the entire preseason and was ruled out for the opener due to what the 76ers described as "left knee injury management." He has a history of injury issues, particularly concerning his knees, and has never played more than 68 games in a season. Last year, he was limited to just 39 games primarily due to knee surgery.
The timeline for the investigation remains unclear, and it’s uncertain what specific rules the 76ers may have potentially violated or what the consequences could be if any violations are found.
This report emerged just hours before Philadelphia's opening game against the Bucks, where both Embiid and his new All-Star teammate, Paul George, were sidelined. Embiid's absence was attributed to "left knee management," without a more specific injury designation. George had suffered a bone bruise in the preseason, but it is not expected to sideline him long term.
After a challenging previous season in which he missed 43 games due to a meniscus injury in his left knee, Embiid returned to action during the first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, which ended in a six-game loss. He then played for Team USA in the Summer Olympics but sat out the preseason games before missing the opener.
General manager Daryl Morey has indicated that both Embiid and George will likely not participate in many back-to-back games this season, emphasizing a cautious approach.
Head coach Nick Nurse addressed questions regarding Embiid's absence and the ongoing investigation. He stated, "I don't know what to say to you. He's in practice. He's looking good. He's progressing. He's not quite ready yet." When asked about the investigation, Nurse remarked, "I don't have any thoughts on it... I don't really know."
NBA's policy
The NBA's player participation policy, established in 2023, aims to curb the load management practice of resting star players who are not injured, with teams facing fines for various violations. These violations include sitting multiple star players during the same game or resting star players in nationally televised matchups, such as the one against Milwaukee.
Embiid, a seven-time All-Star and the 2023 NBA MVP has faced multiple injuries throughout his career, missing his first two seasons after being selected third overall by the 76ers in 2014. In fact, he has played fewer than 51 games in four of his eight seasons, never exceeding 68 games in a single campaign.
