Joel Embiid has yet to make his 2024-25 regular season debut for the Philadelphia 76ers, but he has already picked up a technical foul.
Monday has the NBA announced that Embiid was assessed a technical foul after the game after being seen on-air waving a towel from the bench as Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard attempted free throws during overtime in Philadelphia’s 118-114 win over Indiana on Sunday.
Tyrese Maxey scored 45 points as the Sixers picked up their first win of the season after opening the year with back-to-back losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.
Embiid has missed Philadelphia’s first three games of the season with what the Sixers called Management of the left knee. Fellow superstar Paul George has also missed as many games as Embiid after the nine-team All-Star hyperextension left knee in a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. An MRI showed a bone bruise, but no structural damage in the knee.
The NBA is reportedly investigating the Sixers over the inclusion of Embiid players.
Last week, the Sixers said Embiid “is responding well to his individualized plan and is expected to ramp up his return to playing activities this week, including scrimmaging.”
Embiid won one gold medal with Team USA during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and signed a $193 million contract extension before training camp.
The 30-year-old was limited to 39 games last season due to knee surgery. In his career he has never played more than 68 games per season. He recently told ESPN that he would “probably never play back-to-backs for the rest of my career” to ensure he’s healthy for the playoffs.
The Sixers face the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
It is unclear when Embiid or George will make their debut this season.
