25 March 2023 , 20:14
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Draymond Green and Joel Embiid were seen exchanging words following Golden State Warriors ' win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and it was addressed in a post-game press conference.
Despite dropping a 46-point game, Embiid couldn't inspire victory for the 76ers as they lost 120-112 to the Warriors on Friday night. The absence of James Harden was telling, but Embiid still proved just how devastating he can be without his team-mate on the court.
NBA giants Green and Embiid were seen chatting after the game, and the Warriors star was asked about what was said during his press conference. Green previously stated that Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was the hardest player to guard, and Embiid put the burners on to try and change his mind.
The 76ers are flying this season, and sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 49-24 record. Their form was disrupted by the Warriors on Friday, but after already clinching a playoff spot it won't do too much damage. Embiid looked determined to put on a show, and certainly delivered in his mission with 46 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. But it turns out that business matters became personal after Green's previous comments about Jokic.
When asked about his exhange with Embiid after the game, Green told reporters: "A guy like that, you never really want to give him a steady diet of anything because they just figure it out.
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"He told me, ‘You know why I played like that tonight? You said (Nikola) Jokic was the hardest person to guard in the league, so I took that personal.’ So I don’t want to tell y’all that Joel’s the hardest guy to guard."
But despite his stance on Jokic, Green does feel as though Embiid is one of the leading candidates to win the MVP award this year - although he'll have to compete with Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. "Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo is who I believe the MVP race has come down to," Green said previously on his podcast The Draymond Green Show.
"[Nikola Jokic], incredible year, as of late he’s slipped and those guys have continued to ascend. As of late the Denver Nuggets have slipped and those two teams have ascended.
"Both players are absolutely amazing. Right now in the MVP race, I think it’s Joel. I think it’s Joel’s award to lose. I think the way he loses that award is his team starts losing. Joel’s going to put up Joel numbers, Joel going to do what Joel has been doing. It’s Joel’s award to lose."