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Richard Jefferson hits Sixers’ Joel Embiid with Nikola Jokic provocation amid ducking controversy
NBA commentator and former player Richard Jefferson is criticizing Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid for allegedly sitting out games against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on the road.
Jefferson made a comment on ESPN’s NBA Today about how Embiid hasn’t played in Denver since 2019. Until you guys perform, he declared, “From now on, I will be saying that you are ducking Jokic.”One of the most divisive topics of conversation among NBA fans over the past few years has been the rivalry between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. Although it appeared that Embiid had taken control of the contest after overwhelming Jokic and the Nuggets in a home game back in January, his case was not helped by the announcement that he would miss the Sixers’ game in Denver in March.
While it was bad enough that Embiid’s Sixers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in 2022–23, he went on to earn the NBA’s Most Valuable Player title for that season. And in June, with Jokic as Finals MVP, the Nuggets easily won the NBA title, the team’s first in franchise history.It’s definitely not a great look when a player who makes up half of one of the sports’ biggest disputes continually misses opportunities to exhibit his skills, even if there have been (mainly reasonable) reasons for his absences in the Denver away games.
When the Sixers visit Ball Arena on January 27, 2024, Embiid will have a chance to make amends and answer Jefferson’s worries.