Jon Marks, a radio host on 97.5 The Fanatic, said he felt like “a real idiot” for saying Sixers star Joel Embiid was faking an illness a few hours before Philadelphia’s game against the Rockets on Thursday.
Embiid had emergency surgery for an appendicitis after he was added to the injury report with an illness ahead of a must-win game to avoid the Eastern Conference play-in tournament next week.
“Oh my God, Joel Embiid has appendicitis after I pretty much said he was faking it during my show today,” Marks said in a video posted on social media. “And I feel like a real, real idiot. So, I gotta put this out there right now.
“Like a lot of people did, but I’m on the radio, and based on his history, I thought it was just more of the same with Joel Embiid.
“Apparently, according to the Sixers, he has appendicitis, and he’s gonna undergo surgery. I feel like an idiot, I apologize. But it is what it is and I hope Joel is OK.”
The Sixers announced that the All-Star center underwent a successful appendectomy in Houston during a 113-102 loss to the Rockets, their third straight setback.
Earlier that day, Marks walked out of the studio in the middle of his show when the news broke that Embiid was ruled out.
Before that, Embiid put up 34 points and 12 rebounds in a 115-102 road loss to the Spurs on Monday.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse said the timing “seems difficult” because Embiid was a participant in a “great” practice and film session on Wednesday.
Nurse added that he was told Embiid informed the team that he was not feeling well in the middle of the night before Thursday’s game.
Embiid is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 38 games this season.
His injury history has caused him to miss significant playing time across his 10 NBA seasons.
He only played 19 games before being shut down due to ongoing issues with his left knee during the 2024-25 season.
The Sixers (43-37) are two games behind the sixth-place Toronto Raptors with two games remaining in the regular season.
Philadelphia plays the Pacers on Friday night before hosting the Bucks on Sunday.