He was some amalgamation of Wilt Chamberlain and Ivan Drago, breaking scoring records and opposing spirits, standing 7 feet tall and pushing 300 pounds, seemingly intent on picking a fight with anyone in orange and blue.
Joel Embiid was the reigning MVP when the 76ers and Knicks met in the 2024 playoffs, almost singlehandedly reigniting a rivalry that had been dormant for decades by dropping a 50-bomb and delivering cheap shots, while inspiring profanity-laced chants at Madison Square Garden. The six-game series was a tantalizing appetizer of the feud that should be, of the villain Gotham craves.
But it wasn’t until Saturday night that Embiid finally made his first appearance at the Garden since that heated postseason battle, finishing with 26 points (9-of-15 shooting from the field), 10 rebounds and five assists in the 76ers’ 130-119 win over the Knicks.
“I love being here. It’s my favorite place in the entire world,” Embiid said. “It’s always good to be here, talk back to the fans. They were quiet today. I guess that’s what happens when you’re losing the whole game. I had fun going back-and-forth with them. Sometimes, it’s good to be liked. Sometimes, it’s good to be hated.”
On a team now defined by a new superstar (Tyrese Maxey) and one of the league’s most exciting rookies (VJ Edgecombe) — who combined for 62 points — only Embiid tapped into the wrath of the crowd, who booed the big man every time he touched the ball and screamed as he repeatedly baited Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns into fouls.
After spending the better part of the past few seasons managing lower-body injuries, Embiid again resembled one of the sport’s most unique and dominant talents, creating endless options out of the high-post, where he blew past 1-on-1 matchups and found teammates who offer more assistance than ever.
After averaging 18.2 points and 5.6 rebounds on 40.7 percent from the field in his first nine games of the season, Embiid put up 29.2 points (47.9 percent shooting from the field), 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 blocks in his previous six games before Saturday.
Embiid has played at least 30 minutes in eight consecutive appearances, while the 76ers (19-14) have won three straight games. He had been limited to a total of 58 games in the past two seasons and missed 17 games this season — including the 76ers’ Dec. 19 win in New York.
In Saturday’s final minute, Embiid was rewarded for cherry picking as he threw down his first dunk of the season, prompting the 31-year-old to run down the court with his arms raised in triumph and his smile stretching to Seventh Avenue, like a kid who won a carnival prize.
“It’s a pretty cheap way of getting it, but at least we know he can still dunk it,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said.
Once again, Embiid has raised the 76ers’ ceiling.
The rivalry, too.
“It’s good to play a good team,” Embiid said. “I’m sure you guys probably think they’re the favorite to win the East this year, so I guess [we did] pretty good.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
