Things get chippy in an intense playoff game, and Game 3 of the Philadelphia 76ers-New York Knicks series was no exception.
In particular, the player in question was Sixers superstar Joel Embiid. Facing a 0-2 deficit, Embiid knew he had to shoulder the load and lead the Sixers to victory. He did just that, erupting for a monstrous 50-point performance. But Embiid’s impact came with an ugly incident.
Early in the first quarter, Embiid, while on the ground, made a questionable move by grabbing Mitchell Robinson’s leg as the Knicks center went up for a shot. Robinson ended up playing the first half with a limp and was later ruled out for the second half due to an ankle injury. After the game, cameras captured Robinson leaving the arena wearing a walking boot.
Joel Embiid received a Flagrant 1 after this foul on Mitchell Robinson pic.twitter.com/2ygeQh8gMG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2024
Embiid’s questionable act, of course, was criticized by many NBA fans and observers. One such critic is former New York Knicks enforcer Charles Oakley. Known for his own physical brand of basketball, Oakley said he wouldn’t have let Embiid get away with it if he were in Robinson’s shoes.
Per Newsday:
“I probably would have smacked him,” Knicks’ legend Charles Oakley told Barbara Barker of Newsday regarding the exchange. “You can’t let him send that kind of message. If he had done something like that [when Oakley played], he wouldn’t 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.”
