NBA investigating 76ers over Joel Embiid involvement: report

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the NBA will open an investigation into the Philadelphia 76ers related to Joel Embiid's player involvement.

Embiid is expected to miss the Sixers' first three games of the new season – against Milwaukee (Wednesday on ESPN), at Toronto (Friday) and at Indiana (Sunday) – as he continues to struggle with his surgically repaired left knee. The 2023 NBA MVP also said he may never play back-to-back games again.

Sixers star Paul George will also miss the Bucks game after suffering a bone bruise as a result of hyperextending his left knee. The Sixers said he will be reevaluated later this week.

NBA rules require star players to be available for all nationally televised games and in-season tournament games, and teams are not permitted to keep a player out for an extended period of time without injury. Players must also appear in at least 65 of the league's 82 regular-season games to be eligible for awards such as MVP or All-NBA teams.

Embiid has said he doesn't care about individual accolades and is just trying to keep his body healthy for the postseason. The Sixers never made it past the second round of the playoffs during his tenure.

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According to ESPN, Embiid has already missed 46% of his career regular season games (368 of 801).

Kevin Garnett has already excoriated Embiid, saying, “82 games, man, that's what this damn job entails.”

ESPN's Kendrick Perkins joined the parade on air Wednesday night.

“Joel Embiid, is he hurt?” Perkins asked. “What does that mean? You've been through training camp, why aren't you available right now? You get paid to be on the floor.”

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter covering Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his website ZAGSBLOG.com.