Former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley isn’t shy about sharing his feelings about current NBA MVP Joel Embiid.
The 76ers center scored 50 points to lead Philadelphia to a 125-114 victory over the Knicks in Game 3 of the first round of the playoff series. However, Oakley seems to have a problem with Embiid’s behavior.
“They have to do something about it,” Oakley told Newsday. “When they play, whether they’re friends or not, I won’t shake their hands before the game. I won’t shake Embiid’s hand, I won’t shake anyone’s hand. We have a mission. I’m doing it.”
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Former NBA player Charles Oakley watches the Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks game at Barclays Center on March 12, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Embiid has faced some criticism for his many eyebrow-raising moments throughout the playoff series against the Knicks.
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He got a bad foul in the first quarter of Game 3. As the Knicks were moving the ball, he fell to the ground and grabbed the leg of Mitchell Robinson, who was on the floor. Robinson tried to go up for the shot, but he fell back awkwardly.
The 76ers star was not ejected. Robinson then left the game with an injury to his ankle.
Embiid also hit Robinson in the groin late in the game when the Knicks center took a shot.
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on April 2, 2024. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Oakley suggested that Embiid’s antics could have been handled if Embiid were still an NBA player.
“I probably would have hit him,” Oakley added of Embiid. “I can’t let him send messages like that. If he had done something like that. [when I played], he couldn’t have gotten away with it. When David Robinson played, he knew what he could get away with.They are [bullies] Pick a fight that you think they can win. ”
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The Knicks lead the series 2-1. The Sixers will host the Knicks in Game 4 on Sunday.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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