Philly Radio Host Apologizes for Accusing Joel Embiid of Faking Illness

Jon Marks admits he 'felt like an idiot' after Sixers star undergoes emergency appendectomy surgery

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:42pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and abstract shapes, representing the different viewpoints and fragmented information surrounding a player's unexpected medical issue.A cubist interpretation of the unexpected medical emergency that sidelined a star player, exposing the fragmented perspectives and competing narratives that often surround professional athletes.San Antonio Today

Jon Marks, a radio host on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia, apologized after accusing Sixers star Joel Embiid of faking an illness that led to him undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery. Embiid was ruled out of the Sixers' game against the Rockets just hours before tip-off, prompting Marks to criticize the All-Star center on his show. However, the Sixers later announced that Embiid had appendicitis and underwent a successful surgery, leading Marks to admit he 'felt like a real idiot' for his earlier comments.

Why it matters

Embiid's injury history has been a point of contention for Sixers fans, and Marks' comments added to the ongoing scrutiny around the star player's health. This incident highlights the challenges athletes face in dealing with the media, especially when unexpected medical issues arise. It also raises questions about the responsibility of sports commentators to verify information before making accusations.

The details

Marks said he felt compelled to apologize after the Sixers announced Embiid's appendicitis diagnosis and successful surgery. The radio host admitted that based on Embiid's history, he initially thought the player was faking the illness, but he realized he was wrong after the team provided the details. Embiid had been a participant in a 'great' practice and film session the day before the game, but Sixers coach Nick Nurse said the team was informed Embiid was not feeling well in the middle of the night prior to the matchup against the Rockets.

  • On April 6, 2026, Embiid put up 34 points and 12 rebounds in a 115-102 road loss to the Spurs.
  • On April 9, 2026, Embiid was added to the injury report with an illness ahead of the Sixers' game against the Rockets.
  • On April 10, 2026, Embiid underwent a successful appendectomy in Houston during the Sixers' 113-102 loss to the Rockets.

The players

Joel Embiid

The All-Star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, who is known for his injury history and has missed significant playing time across his 10 NBA seasons.

Jon Marks

A radio host on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia who criticized Embiid for allegedly faking an illness before the Sixers' game against the Rockets.

Nick Nurse

The head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, who said the timing of Embiid's illness 'seems difficult' because the player had a 'great' practice and film session the day before.

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What they’re saying

“Oh my God, Joel Embiid has appendicitis after I pretty much said he was faking it during my show today. And I feel like a real, real idiot. So, I gotta put this out there right now.”

— Jon Marks, Radio Host

“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.”

— Jon Marks, Radio Host

“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.”

— Jon Marks, Radio Host

What’s next

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.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges athletes face in dealing with the media, especially when unexpected medical issues arise. It also raises questions about the responsibility of sports commentators to verify information before making accusations that could unfairly criticize players.