Star Sixers center Joel Embiid has recently had a tenuous relationship with Philly fans, as the Philadelphia 76ers have fallen short of the powerhouse team they were expected to be after retaining Tobias Harris and adding Al Horford and Josh Richardson.
Embiid has had a few flashes of brilliance but has also been very quiet in games, all coming after the proclamation of his intent to play in 70 games, lead the league in wins and earn the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Most recently, Embiid took major flack from the fan base, as the Sixers struggled and lost four in a row. Since, Embiid and the Sixers responded with three straight wins, including Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, fighting through the boos the home crowd showered him with.
“Felt great,” Embiid said of the way he played, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. “They be going at me; I went back at them. We're all human beings. If I can take it, then everyone else can take it too. So we move on, we learn from it, we move on. I gotta do a better job. They gotta do a better job.
“I understand where that comes from, but then again, if you dish it, you gotta be able to take it back. But at the end of the day, like I said in my location last night, it's all love. I love my city. I been here for a long time now. We have a special relationship, and I'm happy to be here. I can't wait for the future, especially this year. I think we can accomplish something great.”
Embiid shushed Sixers fans in a recent win against the Chicago Bulls after showing a lackluster effort against the Memphis Grizzlies with a minimalist 10-point, 10-rebound effort.
He's responded the last two games with 28 and 26-point performances to get the ball rolling, despite the constant booing.
Follow Us
Subscribe