For the third time in a calendar yr, the NBA fined the Philadelphia 76ers over Joel Embiid’s participation. However the $100K wonderful is as a lot in regards to the league’s playing companions as its TV companions.
The NBA fined the Sixers $100K for public statements relating to the well being of middle Joel Embiid, who hasn’t but performed a recreation within the 2024-25 season. Whereas they did not rule that Embiid missed video games with out an excuse, particularly within the nationally televised season opener in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks, the league reportedly took issue with feedback from staff officers.
Crew president Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse have each praised Embiid’s conditioning and weight reduction, with Nurse insisting that Embiid has had “no setback” with accidents to his knee. However that contrasts with Embiid sitting out, with no date but for his return to the courtroom.
Within the 76ers’ earlier Embiid-related fines, the staff was punished for being misleading on harm experiences. Embiid sat for a recreation in Denver after being listed as “out there,” which resulted in a $75K wonderful. Then the Sixers acquired a $100K wonderful when Embiid began in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis after he was initially listed as “out.”
One might argue that these fines had been on account of gaming the harm reporting system to achieve a aggressive benefit, as opposing groups could not correctly put together. However this season, the 76ers have by no means pretended Embiid was about to take the courtroom. The one individuals victimized by the misleading reporting of Embiid’s well being are individuals betting on the video games.
The player-participation coverage requiring stars to play in nationally televised video games helps shield the NBA’s TV companions, who understandably need the very best gamers to be on the courtroom for prime-time video games. Incorrect details about Embiid’s well being actually simply impacts long-term bets, like over/beneath win totals.
However the NBA has gambling partners as properly, as do these TV companions. ESPN even has its personal sports activities e-book. The 76ers aren’t affecting the integrity of basketball video games; they’re simply hurting the integrity of bets.
It is probably that the 76ers will not care in regards to the wonderful. The Sixers gave George and Tyrese Maxey contracts value greater than $200M every. Embiid signed an extension value $193M. The 76ers additionally introduced plans for a brand new $1.3 billion enviornment. All that’s to say {that a} $100K wonderful is a drop within the bucket for the Sixers’ funds.
Embiid did not get away unscathed. Although he hasn’t suited up but, the NBA gave him a postgame technical foul for waving a towel from the bench in opposition to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
The fines are piling up for the 76ers. They will take it so long as losses aren’t piling up as properly.
