Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau's response to Joel Embiid not getting ejected for Game 3 flagrant

26/04/2024 08:31

The New York Knicks clashed against Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, and let’s just say the game was very physical. Just in the first quarter, Joel Embiid was called for a flagrant one after he pulled Mitchell Robinson’s leg while the Knicks big man was going up for a shot. This caused outrage from many fans, who felt that the 76ers center should have been ejected. After the game, Tom Thibodeau was asked if he felt that Embiid should have gotten a flagrant two for his actions. The New York head coach refused to voice an opinion, saying that the question would be good for a pool reporter to ask the officials, per The Athletic’s Fred Katz.

And speaking of the referees, Knicks fans won’t like what the postgame pool report says. According to the crew chief of the game, the officials deemed Embiid’s action to be a flagrant one because the unnecessary contact “did not rise to the level of excessive contact.” Below is the full quote.

Crew chief Zach Zarba on why officials deemed the Embiid foul on Robinson a flagrant 1 and not a flagrant 2: "The crew was unanimous along with the replay center official in Secaucus that this foul was unnecessary but did not rise to the level of a flagrant 2."

Full quote here: pic.twitter.com/bTv5w07q9X

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) April 26, 2024

At the end of the day, the heated game resulted in a 125-114 win for the 76ers. It was a forgettable night for New York, who also lost Robinson to a sprained ankle. After a back-and-forth first half, Philly eventually pulled away, as Embiid continued to pour in the points for a 50-piece.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anybody,” Embiid said, in reference to his controversial foul. “I just, in those situations, I gotta protect myself because I’ve been in way too many situations where I’m always a recipient of the bad end of it.” (per ClutchPoints Sam DiGiovanni)

Knicks players react to Joel Embiid’s foul

However, several Knicks players weren’t convinced. Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and Isaiah Hartenstein all gave their thoughts on the incident as well.

“(I’m) happy Mitch (Robinson) didn’t get a serious injury on that,” Hart stated. “I’m all for tough fouls, tough playoff fouls, but that’s something that can put a guy out for a significant amount of time.”

"Happy Mitch didn't get a serious injury on that… I'm all for tough fouls, tough playoff fouls, but that's something that can put a guy out for a significant amount of time."

– Josh Hart on Joel Embiid's flagrant 1 foul on Mitchell Robinson pic.twitter.com/vWzfAutdz4

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 26, 2024

“I think the grab he did on Mitch was dirty,” DiVincenzo said.

Donte DiVincenzo says Joel Embiid's foul on Mitchell Robinson was "dirty" and he was not bothered by the eye injury he suffered in the first quarter: pic.twitter.com/JXk8HmaABb

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 26, 2024

“It’s not a basketball play,” Hartenstein added.

Isaiah Hartenstein on the flagrant 1 foul called on Joel Embiid:

"It's not a basketball play." pic.twitter.com/hwDOQkl5He

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 26, 2024

Nevertheless, Hart did state that he wasn’t surprised with the referees’ decision to call it a flagrant one, considering how Game 2 also had a bit of controversy to it.

“We knew what Game 3 was gonna be…especially with how Game 2 ended. Am I surprised? Not at all.” (per Knicks Videos)

Josh Hart on if he was surprised that Joel Embiid's foul on Mitchell Robinson wasn't called a flagrant 2:

"We knew what Game 3 was gonna be… Especially with how Game 2 ended. Am I surprised? Not at all." pic.twitter.com/bEl616zgtk

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 26, 2024

As of now, social media is still in a flurry of debates and arguments regarding the foul. If there’s one thing to take away from all of this, it’s that the series will surely continue to be a physical one. Fans on both sides better be ready, because more drama will likely ensue in the coming games.

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