Joel Embiid Does That Broad Street Bully Thing to Karl-Anthony Towns
The young NBA season recently produced an actual fight on the court, as opposed to the typical harmless posturing we're usually forced to endure.
And this one was quite the doozy.
The brief but memorable encounter featured Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid, the latter providing much of the entertainment value.
A garden-variety regular season game between the Sixers and Wolves suddenly morphed into bloodsport for no apparent reason.
It's unclear who owed who what, but that shit escalated very quickly:
KAT FIGHT
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 31, 2019
(have really been waiting a long time to get to use that one)
Joel Embiid and Karl Anthony Towns go at it in Philly. Benches clear, Ben Simmons ends up with an arm around Towns' neck. pic.twitter.com/kNq6HZUPoS
Well played, ESPN's Rachel Nichols.
There were certainly lots of things happening all at once, including Ben Simmons literally making the large KAT tap out with a fine submission maneuver:
Joel Embiid started it and Ben Simmons finishes off KAT with a choke hold 💀 @SONTHighlights
— SportsAreFunny (@SportsRFunnyPod) October 31, 2019
pic.twitter.com/Yc0MTMFpyE
It appears they may have exceeded the limit for assistant coaches on the floor at one time.
And just look at brave Sixers head coach Brett Brown channeling his inner Jeff van Gundy:
Brett Brown went for the “tickle fight” tactic while Embiid was looking for the eyeball 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/zePEC3yCJM
— Sixers Nation (5-0) (@PHLSixersNation) October 31, 2019
Here's the commercially savvy Embiid afterwards waxing poetic:
Joel Embiid reacts to the fight post game: "Well first of all, I ain't no...." 😂 pic.twitter.com/bY6GnL33Th
— FanSided (@FanSided) October 31, 2019
Yeah, the eye gouge was a pretty convincing clue.
Dude even endeared himself further to the city of Brotherly Love:
Embiid loved the fan appreciation for him as he left the game tonight. “I was built for this city and they were built for me... you gotta be a Broad Street bully.”
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) October 31, 2019
Unfortunately, this type of behavior does come with consequences:
NBA suspensions from 76ers/Timberwolves scuffle, per sources: Joel Embiid, 2 games; Karl-Anthony Towns, 2 games. No fine for Ben Simmons.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2019
Apparently, Adam Silver doesn't want to piss off Simmons.