Joel Embiid and DeMarcus Cousins are two of the NBA's biggest, loudest, and most confident personalities. Somehow, their interviews, post-game media scrums, and social media antics live up to the larger-than-life personas the ultra-talented behemoths exhibit on the court. So it came as no surprise that early in Thursday night's game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors, Embiid and Cousins were already engaging in some perhaps playful, definitely profane trash talk.
Embiid telling Boogie to STFU đ pic.twitter.com/6UjHN8OMkm
â Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 1, 2019
This is pretty weak stuff from Cousins, honestly. It's not like he posterized Embiid, nor did the Sixers center even muster a complete block attempt once it became clear he wouldn't catch up to his Warriors counterpart. If anyone should be talking here, it's Draymond Green, whose pinpoint, full-court outlet pass led Cousins right into two of the easiest points he'll score all night.
On the other hand, this is the type of game within the game that makes the NBA as engaging as it is unique. In no other professional sport do fans have such easy access to the on-court communications between players, coaches, and referees. Maybe TNT should keep a camera on Embiid and Cousins all night long.
It's worth mentioning here that both big men have expressed respect for one another in the past. After first facing Embiid during his rookie year, Cousins, still with the Sacramento Kings, showered praise on the league's next great big man.
âI like that kid a lot,â he told CSN's Kate Christensen. âI donât give a lot of people props, but I like that kid a lot.â
Here's hoping the friendship between Embiid and Cousins can withstand the inevitable effect of Thursday's game.
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