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One of the biggest stories in the NBA to open the season is Joel Embiid being absent from the Philadelphia 76ers' home opener. Not long after the former MVP was ruled out against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, reports emerged that the team could face an investigation.
Last season, the league enacted its player participation policy with hopes of limiting load management across all 30 teams. One of the main pieces that got talked about most was the 65-game rule for season awards. However, there are numerous other factors of the PPP.
The Sixers find themselves getting investigated by the league for Joel Embiid's absence since he's a star player. As part of the player participation policy, the NBA does its own due diligence when high-level players miss nationally televised games.
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Embiid has put in limited work dating back to training camp, as the Sixers are operating with the long view in mind. Given his extensive injury history, they are doing everything they can to make sure the star big man makes it to the postseason healthy.
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The Sixers did not roll out Embiid in preseason or Wednesday night because he continues to rehab the knee injury he suffered against the Golden State Warriors last season.
Breaking down the timeline of the 76ers being investigated over Joel Embiid
This whole ordeal began a few hours before the Philadelphia 76ers tipped off against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that an investigation from the NBA is likely to come regarding Joel Embiid's status.
Fast forward to Thursday morning, and Charania provided an update on the situation. As expected, the league did officially begin its investigation into Embiid and why he wasn't in the lineup.
In his story for ESPN, Charania said that this is standard procedure from the league office. Joel Embiid is not being targeted, but just so happened to be a star who sat in a game that aired on national television.
"It's typical for the NBA to review a team anytime a superstar player misses a nationally televised game, as per the player participation policy," he wrote.
Joel Embiid and Paul George would be out from the Sixers' opening-night game, leaving them shorthanded. Tyrese Maxey did his best to lead the charge, but it wasn't enough to beat Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. In the end, the Bucks defeated Philadelphia 124-109.
With the investigation underway, all the Sixers can do is wait to see what kind of verdict the league office comes to.
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