The NBA is investigating why Philadelphia heart Joel Embiid didn’t play within the workforce’s nationally televised season opener in opposition to Milwaukee.
The league confirmed the investigation on Thursday. It was opened as a part of the NBA’s participant participation coverage that went into impact final season.
Such a transfer was to be anticipated.
The NBA has mentioned that any time a star participant misses a sport — it defines “star” as somebody who was an All-Star or All-NBA choice in any of the earlier three seasons, and Embiid is a type of — an investigation could be opened to “promote compliance” with league guidelines and might embrace “impartial medical overview and associated determinations relating to participant availability.”
Embiid — who helped the U.S. win Olympic gold on the Paris Video games — missed your complete preseason and was dominated out for Wednesday’s opener in opposition to Milwaukee with the 76ers citing “left knee damage administration.” Embiid has an extended historical past of damage points, together with knee issues.
Embiid has by no means performed greater than 68 video games in a season and was restricted to 39 final season largely due to knee surgical procedure.
It isn’t clear how lengthy the investigation will take. Philadelphia was additionally with out Paul George for Wednesday’s sport; he suffered a bone bruise through the preseason.