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Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid criticized the NBA’s decision to fine him $50,000 for an “obscene gesture” he made during the team’s 109-108 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Embiid attempted a shot in the first quarter Friday night when he fouled. He landed the shot and appeared to celebrate his success with a “crotch kick” – made famous in WWE during the height of the “Attitude Era”.
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Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a basket and a foul during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
On Sunday, the NBA fined the center and he didn’t seem too happy.
“You better start fining referees for doing the ‘obscene’, ‘blocking fouls’ gesture since I’m not allowed to do that,” he wrote in an article on X.
He then posted a GIF of an NBA official giving a forceful signal to signal a blocking foul during an unrelated game.
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Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers (L) and Triple H perform before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks at the Wells Fargo Center on June 6, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Embiid has been known to do the “crotch cup” gesture to celebrate during games in the past. So much so that it attracted professional wrestling legend Paul Leveque, of the WWE D-Generation X faction, to Xfinity Arena during the height of the 76ers’ success in recent years.
The loss to the Celtics was the 76ers’ first of the season.
Embiid, who struggled with injuries during the 2024-25 season, has 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season.
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers tries to rally fans after making a basket and committing a foul during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
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Embiid is a seven-time All-Star and one-time MVP.
