“Joel has to protect himself” – Kelly Oubre defends Joel Embiid amidst ‘dirty’ accusations

Joel Embiid has faced accusations of being a dirty player at various points of his career. That was, once again, the case after the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 125-114 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their first-round series. The 2022-23 NBA MVP received a Flagrant 1 foul after grabbing Mitchell Robinson by his legs and attempting to pull him to the floor, however, many believe he should have been ejected from the game.

Joel Embiid received a Flagrant 1 after this foul on Mitchell Robinson 😳 pic.twitter.com/2ygeQh8gMG

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2024

Kelly Oubre defended his teammate from the notion that he plays dirty. Speaking with the media on Saturday, the ninth-year veteran stated:

I’ve seen that happen before and I was on the other end of it so at the end of the day, I don’t think it’s dirty. Jo has to protect himself. But at the end of the day, I’m not gonna comment on what they’re commenting on because at the end of the day, they’re gonna hit, and then we hit back, then they cry, and then vice versa or whatever the case may be.

It’s like, let’s just hoop, let’s go out there and play hard. Nobody finna fight – this ain’t WWE. At the end of the day, stand on the stuff that y’all say, so we’ll see tomorrow how they react.

After the game, Knicks players labeled the play as ‘dirty’. Embiid was able to remain in the game, however, and led the 76ers to a much-needed victory in Game 3. He finished with 50 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one block while shooting 13-19 from the field, 5-7 from three-point range and 19-21 from the free-throw line.

Kelly Oubre pushed back on the claims from New York that Embiid’s foul on Robinson was a dirty play, saying he’s been fouled the same way.

“They’re gonna hit, and we’re gonna hit back, and they’re gonna cry, and then vice versa or whatever the case may be. Let’s just hoop,… pic.twitter.com/yRgGyi1pgX

— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) April 27, 2024

Charles Oakley believes New York Knicks need to be more physical with Joel Embiid

Charles Oakley made a name for himself due to his physical play as an enforcer in the 1990s. The former New York Knicks forward claimed the team needs to be more physical with Joel Embiid, stating:

They’ve got to do something about it. I wouldn’t be shaking their hands before the game when they play, friends or no friends. I wouldn’t shake Embiid’s hand or anyone’s hand. We are on a mission.

He was asked how he would react to Embiid taunting Knicks players after the play, responding:

I probably would have smacked him. 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.

Oakley noted that he would make Embiid work during Game 4:

If I’m the Knicks, this is what I do. I’m putting him in every pick-and-roll. Make him work . . . Then you might want to set a hard pick on him. Let’s see how it feels when someone puts you out there. He’s big. He’s like a load of timber wood, but you know what happens to wood when they say, ‘Timber.’ [h/t Newsday]

Embiid remaining in the game allowed the 76ers to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole. The two teams will meet for Game 4 at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday as Philadelphia looks to even up the series.

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