Joel Embiid is back to embracing his heel role again.
Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers appear to be sick of hearing the hatred. After making a 3-pointer in the final minute of Philly’s 118-111 win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, Embiid put his finger over his mouth to shush the home crowd and could be seen saying “shut the f— up” to them.
Joel Embiid tells the crowd to STFU after this dagger pic.twitter.com/BRHlZXtC5w
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) February 10, 2020
That seemed to be a response to some fans booing him.
Embiid was asked after the game about the gesture and explained himself.
“Talking to myself…I’m just mad at myself, frustrated, gotta keep trying to get better every single play,” Embiid said of his gestures, via Philly Voice’s Kyle Neubeck.
“I don’t care how it looks, I’m just playing basketball, getting back to myself, being a good a–hole,” Embiid said.
Embiid acknowledging that he’s back to being an a–hole seems to be clear evidence he’s embracing the heel. Embiid is known was a great trash-talker, but he said he was going to get rid of that. It seems he plays better and more motivated when he’s engaged in beefs, so maybe this is best for him. And maybe the Sixers can thank Charles Barkley for that.
