Joel Embiid Fined $25K For F-Bomb 'Referees Suck' Comment

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Sixers superstar center Joel Embiid was fined $25,000 for his comments about the referees following the team's hard fought loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

At the end of a post game press conference, Embiid, as he stood up from the microphone, bent and said "the referees (expletive) sucked" before turning and striding from sight.

While fans and players on both teams in nearly every game likely harbor similar sentiments, the conclusion of the Sixers' 112-109 loss to the Celtics brought things to a boiling point.

With under a minute remaining, Embiid went up for a shot an was hit on his arm by Boston defender Al Horford, knocking the ball loose. No foul was called. Embiid threw his arms up to his head in disbelief.

According to the NBA's official "Last Two Minute Report," which analyzes critical plays in the closing moments of close contests, there should have been a foul called on Horford (watch the play here). The score was 106-104 in favor of Boston at that point; it could've been tied if Embiid made both free throws.

Embiid, 24, has been one of the most dominant players in the NBA this season, averaging 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. The 7 foot big man was recently named an All Star game starter for the second straight year, and is headed down to Charlotte for the game this Sunday with teammate Ben Simmons.

Though the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors lead both the the Eastern Conference and the NBA, the biggest Sixers rival has always felt like the Celtics. Beyond the typical Philly-Boston rivalry and the fact that the two young star-laden squads will likely be very good for many years to come, the Celtics have edged the Sixers in numerous close contests over the past year, including an epic overtime battle on Christmas Day and last year's Eastern Conference semifinals. All of that surely contributed to Embiid's post game outburst.

"I did get fouled and everybody knew that," Embiid later told ESPN. "I felt like it changed the outcome of the game. The game could have been tied and I was in the heat of the moment.''

The Sixers defeated the Knicks on Wednesday night, and now head into the All Star break at 37-21, tied for fourth in the East with the Celtics. Embiid and Ben Simmons will represent Philadelphia on Sunday night at the All Star game in Charlotte.

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