Video The Fans Make The NBA Playoffs Great | Don't @ Me w/Dan Dakich Dan gives credit to the NBA playoffs. He states that the reason why the NBA playoffs are better than any college games are because of the passionate fans taking over games, making the playoffs a good product
The former New York Giants running back and current WFAN radio host unloaded on the Philadelphia 76ers star this week after Embiid complained about the physicality in Philly’s playoff series against the New York Knicks.
It all started after the Knicks demolished the Sixers, 137-98, in Game 1. During the game, Mikal Bridges drilled Embiid in the midsection while fighting through a screen — not exactly ideal timing considering Embiid recently underwent an emergency appendectomy.
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Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers watches during the fourth quarter of Game Seven against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Mass., on May 2, 2026. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
"I don't know if it was dirty or not… I don't think that was necessary," Embiid said. "It was after the play. It's whatever, it's playoff basketball. If that's the reality of it, I guess we've got to go out and be physical, too."
Embiid also acknowledged he probably needs to do a better job protecting the area while recovering from surgery.
"I guess I got to do a better job of protecting my [stomach]," he added.
Tiki Barber attends the 12th Annual NFL Honors at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 9, 2023. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
During Tuesday’s edition of WFAN’s "Evan & Tiki," Barber torched Embiid for publicly complaining about the contact.
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"If it’s gonna hurt, to physically be hurt, and someone might run into you, accidentally or otherwise, don’t play," Barber said. "Remember when I had a broken arm in 2000? I had to tape my other arm because they were literally stepping on it, knowing I had a broken arm. I didn’t complain about it. It’s part of the risk of playing hurt. So, stop being a b-tch."
"Because you’ve been an elite athlete for a long time," Barber continued. "You play hurt. You have to. Especially when it means something to you."
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid reacts during the first quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., on May 4, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
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Look, playoff sports are basically one giant pain-tolerance competition. Everybody’s banged up by this point of the year. But Embiid — fairly or unfairly — probably isn’t going to get much public sympathy considering his reputation for flopping and theatrics over the years.
And he’s definitely not going to get any sympathy at Madison Square Garden.
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