Joel Embiid is known for ducking smoke at the best of times, but one sports radio hosts believes he has gone to great lengths to avoid playing on Christmas Day.
The reigning MVP will not take the court on Christmas Day when Miami play the 76ers at Kaseya Center due to an ankle injury.
He sustained the injury in Friday night’s win over the Raptors after he landed awkwardly trying to block a shot in the first quarter.
Controversial Philadelphia-based sports radio host Howard Eskin has suggested that Embiid never wanted to go to Miami and is using the ankle sprain as the perfect excuse.
“Interesting that Joel Embiid is out of #Sixers Christmas night game in Miami with what is being reported as injury,” Eskin said on X. “I was told a week ago he told/asked team officials to get him private plane to fly out day of game (team left Christmas Eve) so he could be home Christmas morning. He fell in 1st qt of Friday night game yet played entire game. Embiid never wanted to go to Miami on Christmas. Found way not to go at all. Merry Christmas.”
As Eskin says, Embiid did play the rest of the game after the ankle injury and finished the night with 31 points and ten rebounds.
The clip of the injury definitely does show Embiid rolling his ankle, but it is an interesting suggestion by Eskin.
Embiid clearly rolled his ankle last game, but him missing a game is “ducking”… Notice how this narrative doesn’t apply to anyone else!
pic.twitter.com/r4HWKh1usl— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) December 24, 2023
The sports host’s post didn’t sit well with many Sixers’ fans, with one user commenting, “Pretty crazy how you created a whole career just straight up hating on your own city”.
While another user said, “Howard out here with the made up Embiid slander like always. Should probably be more concerned about the Eagles trying to choke away the season.”
To which Eskin replied,” Leaders don’t bail on their team. Oops, Embiid is not a leader.”
Either way, the 76ers will be without their main point-scorer on Christmas Day against the Heat, who will likely have a full strength team.
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