KD talks about his moment with Embiid on the court, "He talks a lot of shit so…" pic.twitter.com/qhGAZzCAL1
— KNBR (@KNBR) November 12, 2017
OAKLAND–Even though the Warriors have won each of their last six games by at least 17 points, Golden State has not been immune to slow starts.
Against an upstart Philadelphia 76ers’ squad on Saturday evening, the Warriors were slow out of the gates, and as several Golden State players said, took an early “punch to the mouth.”
But when Warriors’ star Kevin Durant needed a boost of energy, he knew exactly where to find it. Durant went straight at Joel Embiid.
The 76ers’ second-year center is a 7-foot phenom, a center with advanced handles and the skills to step away from the hoop. But he’s also as proud of a trash-talker as you’ll find in the NBA, and on Saturday evening, Embiid made it clear he wouldn’t back down.
Late in the first quarter, Durant decided to drive the lane, and after drawing a foul from Embiid on a challenge at the rim, the Warriors’ forward began jawing at the young 76ers’ center. Embiid responded, both players received technical fouls, and all of a sudden, Durant and his team had life.
That was not a mistake.
“He talks a lot of shit,” Durant said. “I needed some energy, so I knew if I threw a couple words at him, he’ll hype me up. It was fun, me and Joel always, I’ve known him for a few years since he first came into the league so it was nothing personal.”
KD and Embiid with some beef pic.twitter.com/NRa48VNfOd
— KNBR (@KNBR) November 12, 2017
After Saturday’s Warriors’ win, Draymond Green expanded on his thoughts on the technical fouls Durant and Embiid received, and indicated that he wished the NBA would be more lenient with its trash-talking rules.
“When he and K (Durant) started barking at each other, I don’t understand how that’s a double technical,” Green said. “That’s basketball. I think the fans want to see that. For instance, when me and Dennis Smith said our words earlier in the season. The referee let us talk and we continued on in the game and like, double tech for that, I don’t understand that. At the end of the day, it’s basketball and that’s entertainment and it’s entertainment. It’s not like they’re disrespecting the game, they’re disrespecting each other. In each other’s faces barking. They’re saying something, then walking out of the way. That’s basketball.
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