76ers' Joel Embiid Fined $35K for WWE-Inspired D-Generation X Celebration vs. Blazers

The NBA announced on Tuesday that Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid has been fined $35,000 for "repeatedly making an obscene gesture" during the team's 126-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

The gesture, a nod to the old WWE D-Generation X celebration, is one Embiid has done many times in the past.

The celebration in question can be seen below at the 2:11 mark:

Embiid, the defending MVP, has been electric to start the 2023-24 season, averaging 31 points, 10.3 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and a steal per game while shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three. If he keeps that scoring pace, it would be the third straight season he averaged above 30 points per game.

His strong start came amidst the backdrop of the drama surrounding James Harden, though that situation was resolved early on Tuesday morning after he was finally traded to the Los Angeles Clippers alongside P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrušev for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin, a protected 2026 first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder, an unprotected 2028 first-round pick from the Clippers, a 2029 first-round pick swap and a pair of second-round picks.

The Clippers sent the Thunder a 2027 pick-swap to facilitate the deal, while the Sixers released Danny Green to create a needed roster spot.

"I think everybody in this locker room has been focused on—we're playing," Embiid told reporters following Sunday's game when asked about the Harden situation. "We've got games every single day. That's up to the guys upstairs and management to figure out what's going to happen. We've got a pretty good team."

Now, the major question in Philadelphia will be what the Sixers do with the draft capital they received in the Harden deal and what stars they may pursue, either in trades or with the wealth of cap space they're expected to have this offseason (somewhere between $66-77 million, per Spotrac).

Some of that will be taken up by Tyrese Maxey's pending max deal as a restricted free agent. But the Sixers will have cap space to play with beyond his contract.

So that leaves one last question surrounding the team: What celebration will Embiid come up with to replace the now-costly D-Generation X thrusting?