On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Sixers dominated the New Orleans Pelicans (117-107). During this meeting, Joel Embiid was involved in a small incident. After a fault on Garrett Temple, sent to the ground, the interior was confronted by Joseph Alvarado.
The Pelicans rookie is clearly not in the same category as the Cameroonian. With his 81 kilos (1m83), the leader did not however retreat in front of Embiid, 127 kilos (2m13). The two men thus exchanged pleasantries with two technical faults distributed.
But for his part, Embiid appreciated this reaction. And so he decided to pay the fine for the rookie, who has a contract at 462,629 dollars.
“I just like his energy. He plays hard. He’s competitive. Even when he picked up the technique, he wouldn’t back down. It was just normal trash talk. Just two guys battling it out on the basketball court “He didn’t back down. I respect that. I like that about him.”
After the game, I went to him and told him to keep fighting and moving forward. I felt it was my fault and I didn’t want him to lose that money because I’m sure we all need it.” commented Joel Embiid in front of the press.
Gossips will say that the 76ers star, with an estimated salary of $31.6 million this season, can afford to pay a $2,000 fine. But he absolutely didn’t have to. A classy gesture, which he did not intend to talk about, but Alvarado spilled the beans.
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