Report: NBA to investigate Embiid's player participation

The NBA will likely launch an investigation later this week over the player participation of Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

The league can review a team anytime a superstar sits out a nationally televised contest, according to the new player participation policy implemented last year.

Embiid missed the entire preseason and is sidelined for at least the opening week of the regular season due to injury management for his left knee.

The All-Star center underwent surgery in February to repair a lateral meniscus in his left knee and subsequently missed 29 games before returning in the postseason.

Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse said Tuesday that Embiid hasn't suffered a setback since competing for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris.

The 76ers say Embiid is "responding well to his individualized plan" and will ramp up his return-to-play activities this week, adds Charania.

In hopes of keeping Embiid healthy for the playoffs, Philadelphia plans on giving the 2023 NBA MVP some time off during the regular season and conducting regular evaluations on him, sources told Charania.

Embiid also acknowledged that he's unlikely to play in back-to-backs for the remainder of his career, the 76ers big man recently told ESPN's Tim Bontemps.