76ers fined $100K for statements 'inconsistent' with Embiid's injury

The NBA fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for public statements that were inconsistent with center Joel Embiid's health status and in violation of the league's player participation policy, the league announced Tuesday.

Sixers head of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse made the public comments, according to the NBA. The league didn't specify what statements were in violation.

The investigation confirmed Embiid was unable to play due to a left knee injury, so his missed games were not in violation of the player participation policy.

The league determined that while Embiid didn't suffer a new injury to his knee at the Olympics, it was unstable enough that he risked more damage had he begun playing, therefore meriting the Sixers' official injury designation of "left knee injury management" as legitimate, sources told The Athletic's Joe Vardon and Sam Amick.

According to the league's policy that was instituted last season, the NBA can review any time a star sits out a nationally televised game. The league opened an investigation last week after Embiid missed the season opener.

Embiid was forced to miss 29 games at the end of last year after undergoing surgery on his left knee to fix a meniscus injury.

The former MVP missed the entire preseason and has yet to play a regular-season game.

Philadelphia is currently 1-2 and scheduled to host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. Embiid won't be available for the contest.

The 76ers were fined twice last season - a total of $175,000 - after they failed to properly disclose Embiid's injury status.