A remarkable return on and off the field. Affected in the knee for more than two months, Joel Embiid regained his sensations on Tuesday, scoring 24 points in Philadelphia's victory against Oklahoma (109-105). If the return of the 2023 MVP is reassuring for the Sixers at the dawn of the play-offs, the franchise was fined $100,000 (around 92,000 euros) for the return of its pivot. The reason: a return announced too late. Embiid was indeed not supposed to play again. According to the NBA, the player was declared “available” only an hour before the start of the game.
The following was released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/w7tAFP0PQY
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 5, 2024
The Sixers already sanctioned in the past
The press release indicates that the amount of the fine is explained by the franchise's liabilities in terms of absence management. In 2022, during the second round of the play-offs against Miami, Embiid returned from injury unexpectedly during Game 3. The Sixers then had to pay a $50,000 fine (around 46,000 euros).
This weekend, Philadelphia will travel to Memphis on Saturday and San Antonio on Sunday. Embiid should only play one of the two games, he who returns to competition cautiously. On the night of January 22 to 23, he responded to Victor Wembanyama's 33 points by scoring 70 points, his career record, during the Sixers' victory against the Spurs (133-123). Last season, Embiid averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists.