The league confirmed on Thursday that the investigation is part of the NBA's player participation policy enacted last season. This policy mandates scrutiny whenever a star player, defined as an All-Star or All-NBA selection in the last three seasons, misses a game.

Embiid, who contributed to the U.S. securing a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, did not participate in the entire preseason and missed the opener against Milwaukee. The 76ers attributed his unavailability to "left knee injury management." The center has a known history of injuries, particularly with his knees, that have impacted his playing time throughout his career.

The investigation aims to ensure that teams comply with league rules regarding player availability. The NBA’s process may include an independent medical review to assess the legitimacy of a player's unavailability. Embiid’s playing record shows he has never played more than 68 games in a season and was restricted to just 39 games last season due to knee surgery.

It is currently unknown how long the NBA's investigation will take. In addition to Embiid, the 76ers were also missing Paul George for Wednesday's game, who was sidelined with a bone bruise incurred during the preseason.