Joel Embiid is clearly Public Enemy No. 1 in New York right now.
The Philadelphia 76ers star Embiid sparked backlash with his behavior during Game 3 of his team’s playoff series against the New York Knicks on Thursday. In the first quarter of the contest, Embiid, who had fallen to the ground, recklessly pulled down on Knicks center Mitchell Robinson’s leg as Robinson was going up for a dunk. Embiid received a Flagrant 1 foul for the very dangerous play and was probably lucky that he did not get a Flagrant 2.
Joel Embiid received a Flagrant 1 after this foul on Mitchell Robinson 😳 pic.twitter.com/2ygeQh8gMG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2024
Embiid also had several other questionable moments during the game that fans thought were dirty. He later kicked Robinson in the groin area on a shot attempt in the second quarter.
https://twitter.com/d9Hoops/status/1783658480659787965
A similar groin kick was then given by Embiid to New York’s Isaiah Hartenstein (for which Embiid was called for an offensive foul).
Isaiah Hartenstein was in pain after this offensive foul by Joel Embiid
(via @KnicksClipss) pic.twitter.com/pziNshaBJd
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 26, 2024
As the game wound down in the fourth quarter, Embiid also hit Knicks forward OG Anunoby with a curious screen.
Embiid really playing with fire sticking out his butt on this screen, could have easily been an offensive foul. pic.twitter.com/ZyGJoe5Hat
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) April 26, 2024
The 76ers went on to win the game 125-114 as Embiid finished with a playoff career-high 50 points. But the victory still came at a cost for Embiid. The Empire State Building announced to X that they were banning Embiid.
“Joel Embiid has been banned from the Empire State Building,” the landmark’s official page wrote.
Joel Embiid has been banned from the Empire State Building
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) April 26, 2024
The Empire State Building sometimes gets involved in matters of sports (though they don’t always bat 1.000 when doing so). With Embiid’s behavior in Game 3 against the Knicks, the Empire State Building felt compelled to take action against him.
