On Sunday evening, the Philadelphia 76ers will play the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in New York.
The 76ers have gone 4-1 in their first five games, which has them as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
Joel Embiid Fined By NBA Before Nets Game
Before the game, the NBA announced that Joel Embiid had been fined $50,000.
Via NBA Communications: “Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been fined $50,000 for making a lewd gesture on the playing court.”
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/yFshBPjMpr
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) November 2, 2025
Many fans reacted to the news on social media.
@Shepherd3622: “So are they going to fine everybody who does it our is this just going to be a one time thing because I feel like if seen it happen before and there has been no fines”
@WorldWideWob: “The DX crotch chop now carries a $50k fine.”
@kdb_0306: “You guys fine the players way more than referees. It’s shameless”
@cecilcanady: “50k for THAT??!?! Where does that money go?”
@tczajkow33: “Taunting 5 minutes into the game 😂 Joel Embiid continues to be the lamest person on the planet.”
@BigSweaty_7: “This is lame. No fun league”
@setokaiba_92: “Pro athletes doing wrestling gestures from an era that isn’t the late 90’s challenge (impossible for the most part)”
@thevonius: “NBAs just been bullying Embiid for over a season now, it’s been pretty odd”
@ThaimbomB: “NBA becoming a soft product”
Embiid also sent out a post (via X) that had over 6,000 likes in 35 minutes.
He wrote: “Yall better start fining the refs for doing the “Lewd”, “blocking foul” gesture since I’m not allowed to do it #NFL”
Yall better start fining the refs for doing the “Lewd”, “blocking foul” gesture since I’m not allowed to do it #NFL https://t.co/WCkaPCOl9I
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) November 2, 2025
Embiid is currently averaging 17.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 blocks per contest while shooting 46.0% from the field and 38.9% from the three-point range in four games.
He was the third pick in the 2014 NBA Draft (out of Kansas).