Entering the new NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers were being viewed as one of the elite teams in the league. They put together a strong offseason, adding star forward Paul George to the roster.
But just a few days into the new season and the 76ers have already come under fire with the league. The NBA announced that they are investigating the team for participation of star center Joel Embiid.
NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN reported the news of the investigation.
He didn't play in the preseason due to injury management on his left knee. Embiid also didn't play in the team's opening game against the Milwaukee Bucks as he dealt with the injury.
But the injury to Embiid certainly has the NBA interested. He is expected to miss the team's next two games this week but could make his return next week.
Embiid has dealt with injuries throughout his career so this is nothing new. But missing the start of the season is a little concerning for the team.
76ers general manager Daryl Morey weighed in on Embiid missing time. George also missed the opener as he deals with an injury.
"We're going to be smart about it. Part of being smart about it is having both Paul [George] and Joel probably not play many back-to-backs, if any," Morey said.
Embiid has reportedly been "responding well to his individualized plan" and will start to ramp up for game activities next week. If he can make his return then the former MVP would give this team a massive boost.
Without him and George, Philadelphia looked lifeless against the Bucks in the opener. The hope is that he won't have to miss much more time and can return to help get the season started off well.
Embiid only played in 39 games last season due to injury but he was able to return for the postseason. Despite this, the team fell in the first round of the playoffs.
He participated in the Olympics this summer with Team USA, helping the Americans claim the gold medal. But now his focus is on trying to win a title in the NBA alongside his All-Star teammates.
If the 76ers can get off to a good start this season, they may be able to get home-court advantage in the playoffs. It would make a massive difference for this team so getting Embiid back healthy soon is crucial to how their year will go.
For more 76ers and NBA news, make sure to head over to Newsweek Sports.
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