76ers get last laugh with Deandre Ayton, Joel Embiid drawing
Nov 19, 2018, 8:11 PM | Updated: Nov 20, 2018, 8:20 am
There was a lot of hype surrounding the inaugural matchup between Phoenix Suns rookie center Deandre Ayton and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, and it goes beyond a No. 1 pick facing off with an MVP candidate.
A picture Ayton drew of himself dunking on Embiid went viral on Twitter in August and it caught Embiid’s attention.
I love when KIDS dream BIG #ThisIsWhyWePlay #WhereAmazingHappens https://t.co/o2SOGMJjIs
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) August 12, 2018
Now, there was already a little spice there previously on draft night when Embiid didn’t take too kindly to the comparisons between himself and Ayton.
Don’t compare Ayton to me either… I play DEFENSE
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 22, 2018
Then in late September, Embiid didn’t hesitate to mention Ayton again when he was asked about Ayton on ESPN’s The Jump during a segment with the question “Who do you like talking trash to the most?”
“He’s about to get his (expletive) kicked this year,” Embiid responded.
With fireworks expected when the two got physical in the post, that did not come to reality.
The Suns’ Twitter page, though, did their best to show Ayton getting the best of Embiid.
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 20, 2018
The photo shown is on an alley-oop to Ayton in which Embiid was not in the vicinity.
Embiid proceeded to score 33 points and grab 17 rebounds in a win, which made it easy for the 76ers Twitter to counter with this at the end of the game.
SIXERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/RidR9dNxil
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 20, 2018
Ayton had 17 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.
