Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for “making a lewd gesture on the playing court” during the team’s October 31 loss to the Boston Celtics, the league announced Sunday.
The Joel Embiid lewd gesture vs the Celtics https://t.co/8mobSOOrk7 pic.twitter.com/0bdCtZuhff
— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) November 2, 2025
The incident occurred midway through the first quarter when Embiid drew a foul while finishing at the rim. After the ball dropped through the net, he appeared to celebrate with a crotch-chop motion, a gesture that quickly circulated across social media.
The referees did not penalize Embiid in real time, as “the closest official walked past Embiid and was looking at the scorer’s table when Embiid made the gesture,” per the league statement.
Embiid reacted to the news on social media.
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
Despite the moment going unnoticed by officials, the NBA reviewed the footage post-game and handed down the hefty fine.
It’s not the first time he’s been disciplined for his on-court antics, though this particular gesture drew swift attention from fans and analysts alike.
Embiid finished with 20 points in the 109-108 defeat, marking his third consecutive game with at least 20. The big man looked explosive in his limited minutes, a positive sign for Philadelphia after last year’s injury-plagued campaign.
The Sixers have been easing the big man back into form, monitoring his knee after surgery closely.
The team already ruled him out of Sunday’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets for rest, just as they did in the October 27 win over the Orlando Magic.
Assuming there are no setbacks, Embiid is expected to return when Philadelphia faces the Chicago Bulls on November 4. For now, though, the focus shifts back to the fine, a reminder that the league continues to crack down on unsportsmanlike celebrations, even from its brightest stars.