Sixers Joel Embiid Fined $25K For Obscene Gesture, Cursing

PHILADELPHIA, PA — It's consecutive days of not great news for the Philadelphia 76ers, as perennially headline-making center Joel Embiid has been fined for his actions at the end of a recent game against the Atlanta Hawks.

During a play at the end of the game, with the Sixers leading by 17 points, Hawks player Kevin Huerter came up from behind Embiid and stole the ball, prompting Embiid to flip Huerter off.

In a statement explaining the reason for the fine, the NBA noted that isn't the first time Embiid has violated "acceptable on-court decorum."

Shortly after, in a post-game interview, a still hyped up Embiid was asked about his recent comments that many took as his declaration he was the best player in the world.

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"When I made that statement, I didn't actually say that I was," Embiid told a reporter, as "Here Come the Sixers" played in the Wells Fargo Center post-game. "I said that being with (during the recent NBA All Star game) some of the best players in the world, and I proved myself, that's what I said. But yeah, f--- it. My bad. I do believe it."

The cursing, apparently, also factored into the fine and its amount.

Embiid had just finished one of the greatest performances of his career, tossing down a career high 49 points, along with 14 rebounds, en route to a decisive win. The Sixers improve to 6-1 in their last seven games.

Sixers fans will well remember Embiid's other recent on court "controversies," including a back and forth that involved boos from the Philly crowd followed by Embiid making a shushing gesture when he made a big play.

"Made for this," Embiid wrote afterwards, and noted again his love for Philadelphia and its fans. "If I can take it then you can too. PHILA TOUGH!!!"

He was also briefly suspended earlier this year following a fight with fellow star big man Karl Anthony Towns.

The Sixers will need Embiid to keep being the "best player in the world," as they just lost their other superstar, Ben Simmons, indefinitely with a back injury.