Joel Embiid ruled OUT minutes before tipoff against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets

Minutes before a nationally televised matchup against the Denver Nuggets, the Philadelphia 76ers announced that Joel Embiid would be OUT for tonight’s game, along with starts Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and De’Anthony Melton. 

Joel Embiid OUT vs Nuggets

For clarification, the medical team decided to shut Embiid down, who was hampered by his knee on Thursday. https://t.co/xjgIEjQIlI

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) January 27, 2024

Embiid was dealing with left knee soreness. During pregame warmups, the medical team made the decision to shut Embiid down and pull him from playing tonight. Embiid has not played in Denver since 2019. 

I hope Embiid never plays in Denver for the rest of his career. 😂 https://t.co/NzhQZJn67Q

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) January 27, 2024

That of course, made everyone irrationally upset on Twitter but as usual, these dorks simply do not know basketball.

Really? Number one trending in the United States?

Are we going to act like he didn’t just give Jokic the business two weeks ago? pic.twitter.com/FtxQ5i7R7D

— Nick Earnshaw (@nearn_9) January 27, 2024

In what world would the Sixers let Joel Embiid, bothered by lingering knee injury, play a basketball game without the following players..? 

OUT: 

• Joel Embiid 
• Tyrese Maxey
• Tobias Harris
• De’Anthony Melton
• Kenneth Lofton
• Mo Bamba
• Robert Covington

STARTERS:

• Patrick Beverley 
• Kelly Oubre Jr 
• Marcus Morris 
• Nico Batum 
• Paul Reed 

Side Note: Richard Jefferson is currently on the broadcast speculating that there’s a reason why Joel Embiid isn’t playing tonight and how he’s missed the last 4 games in Denver. Is he an idiot? Embiid has been dealing with a knee issue for months. THANK GOD JJ Redick is in the booth and is checking him with ease. If I was Redick, I would have gotten up and left already. How annoying can Richard Jefferson be? Might be the dumbest basketball mind on television.

I got news for you. Not only would I pull Embiid from the lineup, but I would let him get an early head start to San Francisco for Tuesday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors. 

No chance in hell Embiid is playing without Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris let alone a light bench. That makes zero sense! How many times are we going to go through this? The only thing that matters is keeping Embiid healthy.

Period. End of discussion. 

Embiid wants to be as healthy as he can for the playoffs. He might not “qualify” to win the NBA MVP because of it but at this point, who gives a shit? He won it last year and whatever rules the new CBA wants to role out won’t change the fact that he’s one of the most, if not the most dominant basketball player in the world right now.

The only thing missing from the resume is a Championship. Embiid knows that. 

And for you Jokic weirdos that push the “ducking” narrative, Embiid is 6-2 against Jokic. He’s not scared of shit.

Embiid averages 27.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assist over eight games against Jokic and literally just DOMINATED him 11 days ago in South Philadelphia.

If anything he should want to play against Jokic as much as possible. It’s easy buckets and continually exposes Jokic who conveniently hides away in the Rocky Mountains away from the typical NBA fans’ eyes.

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