The NBA has fined Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid $50,000. And it’s safe to say Embiid doesn’t agree with the league’s decision.
The fine was in response to Embiid’s “DX Chop” gesture. He made the gesture in the middle of the first quarter of Friday night’s 109-108 home loss to the Boston Celtics, when he drew Boston forward Josh Minott into the air, finished the shot and drew a foul as well.
When the fine was announced Sunday, Embiid sent out two tweets. One told the league to also fine referees for what he perceives to be the same gesture. The second was a video of an NBA official doing what he evidently perceived to be the gesture, which, in all fairness, does look like a gesture for a blocking foul.
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
. @NBA pic.twitter.com/B9Vb2DFamH
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) November 2, 2025
The NBA has fined Joel Embiid $50,000 for making a “lewd gesture” on the court.pic.twitter.com/QGautzY8uy
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 2, 2025
Embiid was unavailable to play Sunday night against the Brooklyn Nets, as he had a previously scheduled night off to manage the health of his left knee.
Embiid has made the gesture, which was deemed “lewd” in the NBA’s news release Sunday, in big games after a big play. In 25 minutes Friday night, he scored 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
This season, Embiid hasn’t resembled the MVP-caliber force we grew accustomed to. His 69 points mark the lowest total through the first four games of a season in his 10-year career. According to NBA.com, the 76ers have been better in 156 minutes with Embiid off the court (plus-9.2 net rating) than during his 89 minutes on it (minus-7.3).
