The former NABC Division II Player of the Year, NCAA Division II Rebounding Leader of 1985 and icon of the New York Knicks, Charles Oakley, shared his clear thoughts regarding reigning MVP, and seven-time All-Star, Joel Embiid.
The 76ers superstar scored game-high 50 points, including 8 rebounds, and 4 assists and took the 76ers to their victory in Game 3 of the Playoff Round 1 series. The last two games were won impressively by the New York Knicks.
Oakley, focused on Embiid’s behavior, as during one of the plays he grabbed the legs of Knicks center Mitchell Robinson and subsequently received a flagrant foul. He shared, as per Fox News, "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."
Embiid received attention due to his involvement in multiple controversial plays during Game 3 of the Playoff series. During this controversial play, Embiid was defending when he fell down after taking an impact from a Knicks player and after that, the ball was passed to Robinson.
"I probably would have smacked him."
– Charles Oakley on Joel Embiid’s antics
(Via @meanbarb ) pic.twitter.com/CGWTjAxnpV
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 27, 2024
Joel Embiid received a Flagrant 1 after this foul on Mitchell Robinson 😳 pic.twitter.com/2ygeQh8gMG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2024
The reigning MVP grabbed his legs as he was shooting the ball. The Knicks center fell down, which later raised tension. Embiid did not receive a rejection for the play and later Robinson left the game as he suffered an ankle injury, as per the report.
Oakley further mentioned, "I probably would have smacked him. You can’t let him send that kind of message. If he had done something like that [when I played], he would not 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."
The Knicks former superstar, Oakley, expressed that if he were active in the league, he would have answered Embiid’s actions with his own. He also suggested, through his remarks, that such implications should be discouraged.
