Knicks legend offers harsh comments about Joel Embiid

Nov 27, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) warms up before action against the Sacramento Kings at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Embiid is getting an earful from Uncle Oak.

Retired New York Knicks great Charles Oakley spoke with Barbara Barker of Newsday this week. In the interview, Oakley expressed displeasure with Embiid’s antics during the 76ers-Knicks playoff series and called for the Knicks to put Embiid in place.

“They’ve got to do something about it,” said Oakley. “I wouldn’t be shaking their hands before the game when they play, friends or no friends. I wouldn’t shake Embiid’s hand or anyone’s hand. We are on a mission.

“I probably would have smacked him,” Oakley added of Embiid. “You can’t let him send that kind of message. If he had done something like that [when I played], he would not have gotten away with it. David Robinson, when he played, he knew what he could get away with. They [bullies] pick a fight they think they are going to win.”

Those are some blunt remarks from Oakley but definitely not ones that are unwarranted. Embiid has come under fire during the series for several moments that have had Knicks fans calling him dirty. In fact, most of those moments occurred in just the last game alone (watch the compilation here).

The problem may be that the Knicks lack a true enforcer like Oakley was. Back in his day with the Knicks, Oakley got physical with everyone from Xavier McDaniel to Charles Barkley (and didn’t lose his fight many years after retirement either). Oakley would like to see some of that from the current Knicks for the rest of this series against Embiid and the 76ers.