The NBA fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 on Friday for “violating the league's injury reporting rules.”
“The 76ers failed to accurately disclose Joel Embiid's game availability prior to the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in April,” the NBA said in a news release. “Embiid was listed as 'out' on Philadelphia's initial injury report and then played in the game.”
Embiid played Tuesday for the first time since Jan. 30. Embiid underwent corrective surgery in early February to address a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, but was upgraded from out to questionable for Tuesday's game against Oklahoma City. However, the upgrade wasn't announced as a formal injury report until 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, about 90 minutes before tipoff.
The NBA said the six-figure fine took into account the 76ers' past history of fines for violating reporting rules. The Sixers were fined $25,000 for the same violation on February 1st. May 7, 2022 ($50,000); and January 11, 2021 ($25,000).
The 2022-23 NBA MVP was in position to win his second straight MVP award when a problematic left knee derailed his season. Embiid had 53 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, four steals and one block in his first two games since his return (both Sixers wins). He averaged 34.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.
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The 76ers are 8th in the Eastern Conference with 42 wins and 35 losses. They are 1/2 game behind seventh-place Miami and one game behind sixth-place Indiana. They have five games left and just one more against a team headed for the postseason.
