The Boston Celtics have taken care of business thus far, going a perfect 4-0 to begin their title defense campaign while the Eastern Conference rival Philadelphia 76ers have struggled to overcome their health concerns.
Seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid still hasn’t debuted this season. Embiid participated in USA Basketball’s gold medal run in this past summer’s Paris Olympic Games, but declared his doubt about ever playing in consecutive games for the Sixers for the remainder of his career. This comes from Embiid’s meniscus tear, which limited the 30-year-old to 39 appearances last season and left Philadelphia stranded in the playoffs.
The NBA stepped in and launched an investigation amid Philadelphia’s controversial approach to preserving Embiid’s health. Following the conclusion of said investigation, the league fined the Sixers $100,000 and released a statement on Tuesday:
The NBA today fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for public statements, including by president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse, that were inconsistent with Joel Embiid’s health status and in violation of NBA rules, including the league’s Player Participation Policy.
The league’s investigation also confirmed that Embiid has been unable to play in the 76ers’ regular season games this season due to a left knee condition, and therefore his games missed have not violated the Player Participation Policy.
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Fresh off an MVP finish to the 2022-23 season, Embiid was poised for another dominant year. He averaged 34.7 points, 11 rebounds and 5.6 assists last season, leading Philadelphia to a 31-8 record when healthy.
“You guys got the update. They were in parts of practice,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse told reporters about Embiid and Paul George after Tuesday’s team practice, per Kyle Nuebeck of PHLY Sports. “So on we go on.”
Nurse added: “(We’re) just trying to establish and maintain some type of identity and toughness of who we want to be and who we are and how we wanna play, which finally showed up three games in. Just staying on that track.”
Philadelphia signed George to a four-year, $211 million contract in free agency, however, the nine-time All-Star also hasn’t debuted this season, either. George averaged 22.6 points with 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists during his final run with the Los Angeles Clippers last season and was viewed as one of the biggest additions made in the East.
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So far, the Sixers are 1-2 with plenty of basketball left to play.
Featured image via Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images
