PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid is usually the one doing the trolling, but in the new "Naked Gun" movie, he’s the target.

Buried deep in the film’s joke-filled end credits is a not-so-subtle jab at the Sixers star, who played just 19 games last season due to a host of injuries.

Appearing just under craft services is the film’s Netflix password: Embiidsknees76!!!

“Embiid made the credits of a naked gun movie before a conference finals,” one fan wrote on social media. “There’s a Sixers fan somewhere on that staff,” another wrote on Reddit.

How did Embiid end up in the credits of the new "Naked Gun" movie? One of the movie’s lead writers is from Philadelphia and happens to be a lifelong Sixers fan.

Doug Mand, who co-wrote the screenplay with Dan Gregor and director Akiva Schaffer, is a Friends’ Central grad born and raised around Lower Merion who grew up rooting for the Sixers. Mand said he wrote upwards of 100 jokes for the film’s final credits, and the Embiid gag was among those picked to be in the movie.

“That was one joke I didn’t even know was in until I saw it in the theater,” Mand told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

While it’s obviously a joke at Embiid’s expense, Mand said the gag was coming from a place of love from a diehard fan who was a firm believer in “The Process”

“I love Joel. One of my daughter’s first 10 words was ‘Joel Embiid,’ ” Mand said. “If I could do something else with Joel Embiid’s name, I would, because I don’t want him to catch any strays.”

While most fans are apprehensive about the upcoming season due to Embiid’s lingering health issues and Paul George’s recent surgery, Mand is optimistic the Sixers can bounce back. He’s even ready for a determined Embiid to use the "Naked Gun" joke as motivation to come back stronger.

“If I need to be the villain in Joel’s life that gets us across the line, then I will wear that,” Mand said. “I will take that on for the city. I’ll put that on my shoulders.”

While Mand didn’t sneak any other Philly references into the film, the writers also took a jab at the Cleveland Browns and their unsuccessful run of starting quarterbacks. Since 2015, the Browns have had 16 players start at quarterback, including new Eagles backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson, so Cleveland was a pretty soft target for Mand and the film’s writers.

Eagles fans will get a glimpse of Cleveland’s starting quarterback competition this week, as the Birds take on the Browns in joint practices ahead of Saturday’s preseason game.

Among those vying for the starting spot is former Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett, but 40-year-old Delaware grad and South Jersey native Joe Flacco appears to be the front-runner for the job, despite rookie Shedeur Sanders’ impressive preseason debut last week.

How are Joel Embiid’s knees?

Embiid is coming off arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, which he underwent in April.

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said last month he expects Embiid to return for training camp in September, but coach Nick Nurse sounded unsure of his biggest star’s timeline.

“I’m not sure,” Nurse told talkSPORT Tuesday at the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Europe camp in Manchester, England.

“All the news is positive. I know he’s working very, very hard, and I think things look good,” Nurse said. “Whether he’s ready for training camp or not, I think there’s maybe a lot more decisions than that to make before we get there.”

Embiid hasn’t spoken much publicly about his recovery, and the social media trollster hasn’t posted a message on X since March. However, he was seen joking with players at a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park earlier this month.

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