NBA Star Joel Embiid Fined $50K for Grabbing His Crotch After Scoring vs. Celtics

NBA Star Joel Embiid Fined $50K for Grabbing His Crotch After Scoring vs. Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, the reigning 2023 NBA MVP, has been fined $50,000 for making what the league called a “lewd gesture” during Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics.

According to the league’s statement, Embiid celebrated an and-one play in the first quarter by grabbing his crotch while facing the Boston crowd — a move that violates the NBA’s conduct policy.

This isn’t the first time the 30-year-old All-Star has been penalized for similar on-court behavior. He was fined $25,000 in January 2023, $35,000 in October 2023, and $75,000 in December 2024 for the same type of “crotch-grab” celebration.

After the latest fine, Embiid posted on social media, saying, “Y’all better start fining the refs for doing the ‘blocking foul’ gesture since I’m not allowed to do it.” The post quickly went viral as fans debated whether the league was being overly strict or simply consistent.

Despite the backlash, Embiid remains one of the NBA’s most dominant players — averaging over 30 points per game and serving as the face of the Philadelphia 76ers franchise.