Sixers’ Joel Embiid irritated with Raptors fans for chanting “F Embiid” after Pascal Siakam’s elbow gave him a fractured orbital and concussion
Embiid: “But I was more irritated by the perception of when that happened, really their fans. I’ve always thought they’ve had great fans. But it kind of changed my mind about their fans up there.”
Sixers center Joel Embiid against the Miami Heat during game three of the second-round Eastern Conference playoffs on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
The elbow came 12 seconds after Embiid dunked to put the Sixers up 29 points and extended his arms like an airplane to celebrate. The Scotiabank Arena crowd booed him for his actions. Then their boos turned to cheers and F Embiid chants after Siakam injured him.
The injury forced him to miss Games 1 and 2 of the Sixers’ Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Miami Heat. He returned donning a protective mask Friday’s 99-79 Game 3 victory.
On Friday, Embiid was asked if he thought his fellow Cameroonian’s elbow was intentional.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t think it was intentional. That’s my guy, obviously. It’s unfortunate. I don’t think he meant to do it.
“But I was more irritated by the perception of when that happened, really their fans. I’ve always thought they’ve had great fans. But it kind of changed my mind about their fans up there.”
The Raptors fans chanted “F Embiid” throughout the series games in Toronto. Embiid didn’t have a problem with that. He said that’s cool.
But he did mention that those types of chants are going on in a few arenas when fans feel like it’s Okay to say “F somebody.”
“There’s a bunch of kids in the arena,” he said. “I don’t think that should be okay even if there wasn’t kids. But it’s almost like, if you respond to it, it’s almost like, in the [Golden State Warrior] Draymond [Green] situation, the league fines you.
“So to me, it doesn’t bother me; I’m just speaking for really everybody in the NBA. if you give it, you also got to be able to take it. And I’ve said it about our fans too, when they boo, if the players are going to go back, you got to be able to take it too.”
Joel Embiid of the Sixers takes to the court to warm up for the game against the Heat at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers center Joel Embiid shoots the basketball wearing a protective mask while warming up.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid of the Sixers wipes his face as he warms up for the game against the Heat at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022. He is wearing a protective mask because of an orbital fracture.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers center Joel Embiid shoots over Heat center Bam Adebayo and forward Jimmy Butler.Read moreYONG KIM/ Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, left, and Danny Green of the Sixers converge upon Bam Adebayo of the Heat during the first half on their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Danny Green of the Sixers celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against Max Strus of the Heat during the first half on their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers center Joel Embiid dunks the basketball past Heat center Dewayne Dedmon.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers collides with Gabe Vincent of the Heat during the first half of their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, top, of the Sixers collides with Gabe Vincent of the Heat during the first half of their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers center Joel Embiid goes after the basketball against Heat forward P.J. Tucker and center Bam Adebayo.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Danny Green, right, of the Sixers tries to block a shot by Jimmy Butler of the Heat during the 2nd half of their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid of the Sixers lies on the court after a hard foul by Bam Adebayo of the Heat during the 2nd half of their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid of the Sixers takes a fall against the Heat during the first half on their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers guard James Harden lays up the basketball past Heat forward Jimmy Butler.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, center, of the Sixers goes up for a shot between Bam Adebayo, left, and Kyle Lowry, right, of the Heat during the 2nd half on their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Heat forward Jimmy Butler goes up for a shot between Sixers center Joel Embiid and guard Matisse Thybulle.Read moreYONG KIM/ Staff Photographer
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey falls down going after the basketball against Heat forward P.J. Tucker.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid of the Sixers puts his protective mask back on after wiping his face during the first half against the Heat in their playoff game at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers center Joel Embiid gets fouled against Heat guard Kyle Lowry.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Sixers Head Coach Doc Rivers points to the floor.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Heat forward Jimmy Butler grabs a rebound with teammate forward P.J. Tucker past Sixers center Joel Embiid.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Sixers guard Matisse Thybulle dunks the basketball past Heat guard Victor Oladipo.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Sixers center Joel Embiid celebrates after making a basket and getting fouled.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Sixers forward Danny Green shoots a three-point basket against Heat guard Gabe Vincent.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Heat forward P.J. Tucker grabs the basketball past Sixers forward Tobias Harris, guard Shake Milton and forward Paul Reed.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Sixers center Joel Embiid celebrates after making a basket and getting fouled.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey celebrates a three-point basket.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Heat forward Jimmy Butler during a break late in the game.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
A big head of Joel Embiid of the Sixers is held up after their 99-79 victory over the Heat at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
As the Sixers beat reporter, I provide daily coverage, perspective, a social media presence and long-form takeout pieces about one of the NBA's young emerging teams.
