Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse took to a podium Wednesday to continue his side gig as human pinata. Philadelphia’s season is a week old and the franchise’s superstar Joel Embiid has not yet touched the floor. No preseason games. No regular season games. Nothing. And for whatever reason, the Sixers refuse to explain why, other than classifying it as “left knee injury treatment.” When asked again for clarity on Embiid’s status before Philly’s loss to the Detroit Pistons, Nurse didn’t even try.

“I have to prick that,” he said.

Sources. Here’s the reality: Embiid Is injured. At least that’s what the NBA came to when it concluded its investigation into L’Affaire Embiid this week. The league “confirmed that Embiid was unable to participate in the 76ers’ regular season games this season due to a left knee ailment,” the league said in a statement. Because the NBA downplayed the matter – and some would argue outright lied – it fined the Sixers $100,000.

So why not address it? That’s the secret. The secrecy surrounding Embiid is almost reminiscent of Kawhi Leonard. It’s not like an Embiid injury would be a huge shock. Last season he tore a meniscus in his left knee. He broke his orbital bones, dislocated his finger and missed two entire seasons because of foot problems. Since being drafted, Embiid has missed 46% of the Sixers’ regular season games.

Embiid’s injury is not news.

Honestly, it’s news if he isn’t.

“Our guys are practicing,” Nurse said. “They are making progress.”

Got it.

It was always going to be a different season for Embiid. After years of watching the 7-foot star get eliminated early in the playoffs, priorities changed for Embiid and the Sixers. Embiid had already won an MVP, earned a handful of All-NBA nods and made more All-Star teams than anyone cares about. There was no reason to prioritize regular-season honors. Now it’s about the playoffs.

No back to back? Fine. Skip the occasional short road trip? Whatever. Do you give him time off in January and February? Makes sense. Sitting out the first four games of the season doesn’t mean…unless Embiid is Really injured.

But when? And How? The athlete reported that Embiid’s knee was too “unstable” to play, which is certainly open to interpretation. Embiid was still playing competitively in August. He played an important role in USA Basketball’s gold medal win at the Olympics. He started five games. He averaged 17 minutes. At Sixers media day, Embiid claimed to have lost between 25 and 30 pounds.

A month later… nothing. Adding to Embiid’s absence is the injury to Paul George, whose well-articulated injury – a bone bruise in his left knee caused by a collision during a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks – has kept him out of the lineup. With their two stars in street clothes, the Sixers have opened the season 1-4, most recently an embarrassing double-digit loss to the winless Pistons on Wednesday.

“I’ve got to keep fighting, keep finding ways to get guys going, guys to get good shots,” Tyrese Maxey said. “We have to be better defensively. We have to be better in every way. Without it, there is little room for error.”

Is this a big deal? Not really. It’s strange, yes, but when Embiid returns this weekend – the Sixers don’t play the Memphis Grizzlies again until Saturday – it will quickly be forgotten. But him needs to play. Maybe not 60 to 65 games. But he has to be at least in his 50s. To win in the NBA you need talent. But you also need a chemistry that can only come from the combined play of Embiid, George, Maxey and Philadelphia’s revamped bench.

The nurse (surprise) didn’t want to commit to a schedule on Wednesday. “I expect to have a much clearer idea on Friday,” Nurse said. He claimed he was unaware the team had been fined and suggested reporters ask team president Daryl Morey or general manager Elton Brand for more details. He took a few more hits from an understandably testy Philadelphia press corps before retreating to the locker room.

“I have a game and several games to coach and it’s a lot going on,” Nurse said.

Indeed. And all everyone wants to know is when Embiid will be a part of them.