“What’s so funny?” – Giannis Antetokounmpo LOSES COOL, calls out ESPN for laughing at Joel Embiid’s heartfelt speech
Joel Embiid quoted Giannis Antetokounmpo in his post-game interview speech.
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Joel Embiid (L- Image via YouTube) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (R- Image via AP)
The Philadelphia 76ers had a rather rough end to their season. Playing the Boston Celtics at home, the 76ers were blown out in a 24-point loss. The two key players failed to step up as Joel Embiid and James Harden had combined for a mere 24-point show. The rest of the 76ers’ roster too wasn’t too impressive with their scoring. Most players couldn’t put up more than 20 points. A Jayson Tatum 51-point special, on the other hand, propelled Boston to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
After Philly’s disappointing show, Embiid and Harden have been receiving a lot of harsh criticism. While fans and critics are pointing out their almost absent performance, many are simply disappointed. Joel Embiid then spoke to the press in the post-game interview. He dwelled on the team’s loss but also displayed an optimistic attitude. Embiid then quoted Giannis Antetokounmpo in his answer. A response for which he was mocked by many.
Joel Embiid was talking about the loss when he said, “Like someone said: it’s not a failure, it’s a step to success.” This was a reference to Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s response to a reporter who asked him if he saw his season as a failure. While Embiid wore a smile while saying it, ESPN’s SportsCenter found it unbelievably funny. SportsCenter later posted the quote on Instagram with a set of laughing emojis as the caption. Antetokounmpo, in displeasure with their attitude, commented on the post by saying, “What’s so funny?”
Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo sends DIRECT WARNING to entire NBA
How did Joel Embiid play in the postseason?
While the 2022-23 NBA season MVP led his team to the playoffs, his performance slopped off. Joel Embiid averaged 33.1 points per game in the regular season. However, the number dropped to 23.7 points per game in the playoffs. That drop-off (-9.4) is the largest by that year’s MVP in NBA history. Many fans and critics have therefore been critical of his performance.
Embiid, on the other hand, had something else to say. The MVP was very clear about the fact that he and James Harden scored the bulk of the points for the 76ers. However, he said that the two of them couldn’t win a championship alone and the team’s dependence on them led to their eventual elimination. “Me and James, we can’t win alone. That’s why basketball is played 5-on-5. We need everybody to find ways to be better.”
Embiid’s response has generated a lot of accusations of passing blame. Many have also accused the MVP of not taking responsibility for a poor Game 7 performance. While the Philadelphia 76ers now head into the off-season, the Boston Celtics will play the Miami Heat for the Western Conference Finals. A clash that promises to be exciting.
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