Sixers center Joel Embiid has been fined $75K, the NBA announced today in a press release (Twitter link).

Embiid was ejected from Monday’s game vs. San Antonio for arguing with and confronting an official about a foul call, but this fine wasn’t related to that incident. According to the league, the $75K penalty is for “making obscene gestures on the playing court” during the first half of Philadelphia’s win in Boston on Wednesday.

The NBA didn’t specify exactly which gestures Embiid was being fined for, but there were a couple candidates captured on ESPN’s broadcast. After being fouled on a first-quarter basket, the star center made a subtle crotch-chopping gesture while lying on his back on the court (Twitter video link). He also appeared to flip off the home crowd after making a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half (Twitter video link).

Embiid was fined during both the 2022/23 and ’23/24 seasons for “obscene gestures” on the court (crotch chops, in both cases), so his history – along with the bigger Christmas Day stage – may have been a factor in the more significant penalty this time around.

Embiid’s cap hit this season is approximately $51.4MM, so the fine represents a drop in the bucket for the former MVP.

Embiid is questionable to play on Saturday in Utah, with the Sixers’ injury report citing both his sinus fracture and a left foot sprain, notes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).