As if the first round of the NBA playoffs needed more kicks, 76ers center Joel Embiid decided to give it a try himself.
Early in the first quarter of Thursday’s Game 3 matchup between Philadelphia and Brooklyn, Embiid fell to the floor while fouling Nets center Nick Claxton. After Claxton stepped over Embiid, the MVP frontrunner swiftly kicked Claxton between the legs, glancing him on the leg and leading to an even more heated confrontation.
Embiid KICKS Nic Claxton after stepping over him 😳 pic.twitter.com/gsOzepO4lZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 20, 2023
Claxton was issued a technical foul, while Embiid was given a Flagrant 1. The play drew a striking resemblance to the one involving Warriors forward Draymond Green and Kings center Domantas Sabonis in Game 2 of that series, when Green stomped on Sabonis’ chest during the fourth quarter. Green was ejected for his actions, and later suspended for Game 3, with the league citing his past history of altercations as a factor in the suspension.
Given the similarities between the two plays—and the vastly different consequences for the players involved—it didn’t take long for the fine folks at NBA Twitter to chime in and point out the disparity.
Did the refs get it right this time around? Check out the best social media reactions below.
Draymond gets tossed for this pic.twitter.com/yypeG7urZj
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) April 20, 2023
Draymond: Why y’all ain’t eject Embiid??
— Jasmine (@JasmineLWatkins) April 20, 2023
NBA: pic.twitter.com/7kTM8OzdPi
Draymond would be kicked out of the league if he did this. pic.twitter.com/zNQb4KnqfA
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) April 20, 2023
This clip should be the entirety of the Draymond suspension appeal pic.twitter.com/etsThb0b9E
— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) April 20, 2023
they are putting draymond in the hannibal mask if he kicks someone like that
— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) April 20, 2023
Embiid get flagrant 1 because he tweet good 👍🏿
— Kofie (@Kofie) April 20, 2023
The league already set a precedent.
— Peter Dewey (@peterdewey2) April 20, 2023
This is an ejection and suspension unless you officiate Draymond and Embiid differently. pic.twitter.com/5dbQnBrBpR
