The NBA slapped the Philadelphia 76ers with a $100,000 fine on December 3, 2025, for mistakenly declaring Joel Embiid "out" in their injury report before the November 30, 2025, game against the Atlanta Hawks—when he was actually dressed to play. This incident marks the fourth infraction in less than two years regarding Embiid's status, pointing to serious issues in the team's injury disclosure methods. The turning point came during a double-overtime showdown in the Eastern Conference at State Farm Arena, which really pushed the already depleted 76ers to their limits.



After being out for three weeks due to knee pain, the 2023 MVP skipped his pre-game status update due by 5 p.m. and played for 28 minutes, scoring 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting (1-for-4 from three), along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists, helping the team come back from an 18-point deficit. Atlanta responded with Trae Young's impressive 42 points, clinching a 142-134 victory as Philly stumbled in overtime. This last-minute update threw bettors off and went against NBA rules for timely reporting to protect the game and its markets. In just his seventh game of the 2025-26 season, Embiid's impact is significant for a fourth-place Eastern Conference team at 12-10. The increased fine now calls for accountability. Let's break down the past cases, the context of enforcement, and what lies ahead in the full analysis.



What did the league say about this?In its official release, the NBA detailed the breach directly. "The 76ers failed to accurately disclose the game availability status of Joel Embiid prior to their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 30," the league stated on NBA.com. "Embiid was listed as 'Out' in Philadelphia's initial injury report and subsequently played in the game. The fine takes into account the 76ers’ prior history of violations."






This announcement was sent out by John Skipper, the NBA's Executive VP of Communications, to team executives through email. It follows the league's collective bargaining agreement that requires accurate and prompt injury updates to prevent misleading stakeholders. The Associated Press mentioned the fine as part of wider enforcement actions, highlighting that it was confirmed in a memo sent to all 30 teams.



The issues Philadelphia has with Embiid's reporting are not unique. The fine clearly considers past offenses, raising the penalty from previous amounts. In October 2024, the NBA fined the 76ers $100,000 because team personnel made public statements that conflicted with Embiid's reported status before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.



Earlier in April 2024, a $100,000 fine was imposed due to misrepresenting Embiid's status for the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he was unexpectedly downgraded even though there were earlier signs he would play. CBS Sports reported on this, citing the league's memo, "The fine accounts for the 76ers’ history of similar violations."



The first major incident happened in February 2024, when the team was fined $75,000 for failing to disclose Embiid's knee soreness in the report leading up to their game with the Denver Nuggets. This has caught the attention of analysts, and Shams Charania from The Athletic mentioned on X that these recurring fines suggest "a clear intent by the NBA to enforce stricter compliance."



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