Joel Embiid fined for Instagram comment about LaVar Ball

Joel Embiid’s boisterous personality has made him a must-follow on social media. His charisma and unpredictability shines, but Saturday there were financial repercussions for the first time in his career. The NBA docked him $10,000 for a comment of LaVar Ball Tuesday on his Instagram account.

While Embiid had to fork over money, albeit a small amount, previously in his career for his actions, this was the first instance it came from his comments. Embiid’s verbal tussle with Ball wasn’t just spontaneous, as his draft day remark wanting Ben Simmons to dunk on Ball’s son, Lonzo, went viral.

It caught LaVar’s attention, and on 97.5 The Fanatic he responded with harsh criticism of Embiid and his teammates.

When you don’t win and don’t even make the playoffs, and don’t even stay on the court long enough, that’s the best thing you can do is Tweet, make some stuff. Ain’t nobody else doing that, because they’re working on their game in the gym. These guys ain’t played a game, always hurt, and at the bottom of the totem pole. So guess what, get your asses off the goddamn Tweeter, and get in the gym.

With Ball’s outlandish personality and penchant to comment on anything and anytime, he’s baiting early-20 players into chatting back. Embiid’s opinion of him is clear and there was no consideration for the consequences. While everything will be settled on the court, there’s another rivalry amongst the two organizations.

Prior to the draft, Fultz commented on trying to “beat him in everything he does.” The two will naturally be linked due to their draft slots and same position, and LaVar could disrupt an exciting, long-term feud between the talents involved.

Embiid’s savvy enough to not let a talking figure affect his psyche. Embiid’s jovial and a character, but everything he does is premeditated. He’ll let his play against Los Angeles, when they meet, and the rest of the league do the talking.