76ers’ Joel Embiid says he doesn’t mind being villain at Madison Square Garden: ‘I just love New York’

Joel Embiid has performed three playoff video games at Madison Sq. Backyard, and after a shocking come-from-behind Sport 5 victory by the 76ers, he is hoping there’ll ultimately be a fourth. If there’s, Embiid can count on to face an more and more hostile crowd. Between a number of borderline soiled fouls and a monster 50-point Sport 3 efficiency, Embiid has turn out to be public enemy No. 1 in New York Metropolis. Knicks followers each out and in of Madison Sq. Backyard have been heard chanting “f— Embiid,” and plenty of of them are adamant that he ought to have been ejected from Sport 3 for a flagrant foul on Mitchell Robinson.

However Embiid is taking the negativity in stride. After Philadelphia’s Sport 5 victory, he even appeared to relish it. “It isn’t hostile. I really like New York. New York is my favourite metropolis on the earth,” Embiid said. “I’ve a spot right here for the previous 5 years. I simply love New York. If I’ve acquired to be the punching bag and also you hear a number of ‘F Embiid,’ that is okay. I adore it.”

New York manages to discover a villain in nearly each playoff collection the Knicks take part in. Trae Younger occupied that function famously in 2021. Traditionally talking, New York villains characterize a fairly historic group of basketball figures. Michael Jordan, Pat Riley and Reggie Miller have all been loathed by the Madison Sq. Backyard crowd. It comes with the territory of going through the Knicks in a collection.

There is a shred of irony right here given the long-simmering rumors about Embiid as a attainable commerce goal for the Knicks. Although he’s below contract in Philadelphia for a minimum of two extra seasons, he talked about final offseason that his aim is to win a championship “whether or not that is in Philly or anyplace else.” 

His former agent, Leon Rose, now runs the Knicks, and whereas the 76ers are primed for a robust offseason, there’s all the time concern {that a} famous person that has skilled restricted playoff success will begin to marvel about new houses. There’ll naturally be a little bit of questioning about whether or not or not Embiid is enjoying a little bit of preemptive politics right here.

After all, even when he’s, it does not must imply a lot. LeBron James famously referred to as New York his favourite metropolis on the earth too simply forward of his 2010 free company. He nonetheless hasn’t performed for the Knicks. It doesn’t matter what the long run holds for Embiid, his current could be very a lot tied to the Knicks. On Thursday, his 76ers will try and even this collection at three video games apiece in Philadelphia. Ought to he succeed, they are going to return to Madison Sq. Backyard for Sport 7. There’s nothing Embiid might say between from time to time that may carry the villain label off of him. He is at peace with that if it means surviving this collection and advancing within the postseason.