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Joel Embiid Fined For 'Obscene Gesture' vs. Trail Blazers

The NBA has dished Joel Embiid a fine for his celebration against the Trail Blazers.

Declan Harris

Joel Embiid Fined For 'Obscene Gesture' vs. Trail Blazers
Joel Embiid Fined For 'Obscene Gesture' vs. Trail Blazers /
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On Tuesday, the NBA issued Philadelphia 76ers big-man Joel Embiid a $35,000 for making an 'obscene gesture' during a celebration against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 'obscene gesture' came towards the end of the third quarter after Joel Embiid laid a full court pass from De'Anthony Melton, and celebrated the occasion by pelvic thrusting.

Following their win on Sunday night, Embiid opened his remarks by joking that he didn't recall the incident, before going on to discuss the evolution of his on court persona.

"I don't remember that," said Embiid, "I used to have a lot more energy when it came to getting into it with the crowd, and I feel like the last three years I've just been focused on taking care of business and not getting too much into the here and there, I might lose myself but I guess that's just a different me."

Embiid doubled down on this maturing, while making it clear that the drive and passion he had when he first started hasn't gone anywhere, rather, it's taken a different form.

"I think a lot of people see that it's like, I might not be as interested because I'm not the young Joel that I used to be, getting into it with the crowd and raise my hands all the time," explained Embiid, "But that doesn't mean that I'm not as focused or I'm not as interested, or that I don't have the same passion, the passion is just different, it's about standing on business and trying to take our business and trying to win the game..."

This isn't the first time that Embiid has gotten slapped with a fine for his celebrations, as in January, the NBA hit the defending MVP with a $25,000 for the same move.

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Declan Harris
DECLAN HARRIS

Declan Harris is a writer for FanNation's All76ers powered by Sports Illustrated Media Group. In addition to his role covering the Sixers, Declan also writes for CityXtra, covering Manchester City F.C. He is a 2023 Temple University Lew Klein School of Media and Communications graduate. 

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