The Philadelphia 76ers' season ended with a thud on Sunday, as the New York Knicks completed a 4-0 series sweep in the second round. But the real drama unfolded after the final buzzer, when Joel Embiid sat down with the media and brought along an unexpected prop: his young son.
The move has sparked outrage among fans and pundits alike, with many accusing the former MVP of using his child as a human shield to deflect tough questions. ESPN host Chris Canty didn't mince words, calling the decision 'cowardly' on his radio show.
'He's using his son as a human shield for criticism,' Canty said. 'It's hard for the reporters to ask the hard-hitting questions when you have that ball of cuteness sitting in Joel Embiid's lap. I can't really get into it with Joel Embiid with his son right there.'
The scene was a familiar one for Embiid, who has a history of emotional reactions to playoff exits. Back in 2019, he was seen crying in his then-girlfriend's arms after a loss to Toronto. But this time, critics argue, he crossed a line by bringing family into a professional setting.
'I hate that!' Canty continued. 'From a leadership standpoint, own the moment, which is your team was absolutely embarrassing, face the firing squad that is the Philadelphia media and let them ask all of the tough questions that they need to ask and take all of those slings and arrows and be the face of the failure that the Sixers experienced this year.'
The criticism adds to a growing chorus of voices questioning Embiid's leadership. Earlier in the series, Embiid's excuses after a 3-0 deficit drew ire from fans, and Tiki Barber unloaded on Embiid for complaining about injuries. Even with the star center sidelined for a game, the team couldn't keep up with the Knicks.
Embiid remains the only MVP in NBA history never to reach a conference finals, a stat that hangs over his legacy like a dark cloud. The Sixers are now heading home, while the Knicks advance to face the winner of the Celtics-Pacers series.
For Embiid, the press conference stunt may have been an attempt to soften the blow of another early exit. But in the eyes of many, it only highlighted a failure to step up when it mattered most.
