Joel Embiid Tells NBA To 'Suck It'; Claps Back After $50K Fine For 'Lewd' Gesture

Last Updated:November 03, 2025, 20:44 IST

Joel Embiid was fined 50000 by the NBA for a lewd gesture during a loss to the Boston Celtics, continuing his history of similar fines, and responded with humor on X.

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (AP)

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is in hot water again — and loving every minute of it.

The NBA fined the reigning MVP $50,000 for making a “lewd gesture" during Friday’s 109–108 loss to the Boston Celtics.

The incident came midway through the first quarter, when Embiid scored through contact and celebrated with a crotch chop gesture.

It’s far from the first time Embiid’s celebrations have landed him in trouble.

The 31-year-old has been fined for the same act multiple times — $75,000 in December 2024 and $25,000 in January 2023 — proving that some habits die hard. The fine was announced by James Jones, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations.

But Embiid wasn’t about to take it quietly.

He fired back on X (formerly Twitter) with a tongue-in-cheek jab at the league, pointing out that referees make a similar chopping motion when signaling a blocking foul.

The All-Star center, who is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery in April, will sit out Sunday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. In his limited four appearances this season, Embiid has averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 22.3 minutes per game.

Even from the sidelines, it seems Embiid’s entertainment value — and fine total — remain sky-high.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

News sports Joel Embiid Tells NBA To 'Suck It'; Claps Back After $50K Fine For 'Lewd' Gesture

Read More