Confused Joel Embiid Finds Out on Social Media the 76ers Decided He Was Too Sick to Play

Joel Embiid played on Monday and was shocked to learn he wasn’t playing two nights later. | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The 76ers beat the Wizards 153-131 on Wednesday night and pretty much with some of the NBA's biggest issues on display. The game featured a tanking team, questionable load management and some light social media drama.

While Paul George showed up and scored 39 points, his highest point total since signing with Philadelphia, it was the absence of Joel Embiid that should be generating all the headlines and takes today. Embiid returned from an oblique injury last week and played in three straight games before last night when he sat out, which was news to him.

Monday night against the Heat, Embiid started, played 34 minutes, scored 26 points and most importantly, finished the game which is how he got into an animated exchanged with Bam Adebayo. With a day off before the 76ers took on the Wiazards, Embiid figured he was going to play on Wednesday, but was apparently shocked to learn on social media that he was not.

A writer who covers the 76ers reported that Embiid would not be playing on Wednesday due to illness. Approximately two hours later Embiid responded saying it must be an April Fools' joke and revealed he had "Played against Miami in the same conditions and I'm planning to play tonight!!!"

Must be APRIL FOOLS joke???? Played against Miami in the same conditions and I’m planning to play tonight!!! #SweatItOut https://t.co/EAMq2679u2

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) April 1, 2026

This is quite an exchange in the current player prop, bet-on-everything, same game parlay, promo code era professional sports leagues are currently navigating. You've got news that a high-profile player in a friendly matchup won't be playing, followed by another reporter jumping in to confirm the original news. Then Embiid responded on X an hour later saying, "I guess they won't let me play basketball!!!"

I guess they won’t let me play basketball!!

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) April 1, 2026

It sure sounds like the 76ers kept out a star, who not only could play, but wanted to play, which in turn sounds like something the league has tried to discourage recently. Stars missing games when healthy is something the league is actively trying to curb. And here's Embiid having a one-sided fight with the organization on social media about his status.

Here's what the NBA Players Association said publicly when the Bucks were trying to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo out just last week, via ESPN:

"The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court."

Replace Giannis with Embiid in there and it sure seems to fit. The big difference is that the 76ers are still trying to make the playoffs and the Bucks wanted to shut down Giannis—which they did successfully end up doing—in an effort to keep losing games.

In this case, the tanking team is the one the 76ers were playing last night. So much like when Luka Dončić was suspended, it was the perfect team for Embiid to get some rest against. Washington has now lost four straight, 20 of its last 21 and are clinging to the worst record in the league. The Wizards gave up 83 points to Bam Adebayo and 153 to the Embiid-less Sixers.

Embiid is making $57.75 million this season and had already missed 39 games. He was healthy enough to play on Monday, wanted to play on Wednesday and will presumably be back in the lineup on Friday when the team hosts the Timberwolves.

This is exactly what the league wants to avoid and yet the 76ers couldn't even communicate their plans effectively to Embiid in a way that kept him from making things look messy on social media. And that's not a good look for anyone.

---