Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was listed as out with an illness on the club’s 11:15 a.m. injury report ahead of Wednesday night’s game in Washington, then quickly disputed the designation on social media.
“Must be APRIL FOOLS joke???? … I’m planning to play tonight!!! #SweatItOut,” the reigning MVP wrote on X, noting he had also played through the same illness Monday against Miami, a game in which he scored 26 points in 34 minutes.
Team president Daryl Morey told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Embiid missed Wednesday morning’s film session, prompting the medical check and the initial decision to rule him out. After that update surfaced, Embiid posted again: “I guess they won’t let me play basketball!!” No further change to his status had been announced at publication time.
Payne slides out of rotation
Veteran point guard Cameron Payne logged only two minutes Saturday in Charlotte and received his first DNP-CD since joining Philadelphia in February during Monday’s loss to Miami. According to PhillyVoice, the Sixers are testing rookie VJ Edgecombe as the backup ball-handler in the brief stretches when Tyrese Maxey sits.
Questions about Nurse and postseason minutes
In a mailbag column, PhillyVoice reporter Adam Aaronson addressed fan speculation about head coach Nick Nurse possibly being on the hot seat this summer. Aaronson also highlighted the team’s outside-shooting woes; Philadelphia ranks 29th league-wide in three-point percentage after dealing rookie sharpshooter Jared McCain to Oklahoma City.
A separate mailbag by Inquirer beat writer Gina Mizell looked ahead to the playoffs, suggesting Andre Drummond, Justin Edwards, Trendon Watford, Jabari Walker, and Payne could see limited or no postseason action.
Jessup commits to Bayern Munich
Shooting guard Justinian Jessup, whose NBA rights belong to the Sixers, has signed a multi-year extension with Bayern Munich that runs through 2028. The 27-year-old was selected 51st overall in the 2020 draft and was acquired by Philadelphia in this year’s Eric Gordon trade with Memphis.
Source: Hoops Rumors
