Late in Saturday afternoon’s meeting between the Sixers and Thunder in Philadelphia, Russell Westbrook was fouled by Joel Embiid. But it wasn’t your ordinary foul: It was a nasty looking collision where Embiid landed on Westbrook as the former tried to stop the latter on a fast break, and while it didn’t seem like Embiid was doing anything malicious, it looked ugly.
Russell Westbrook has to be held back from going after Joel Embiid after collision under basket pic.twitter.com/UZYS4KZZmH
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 19, 2019
Embiid wasn’t called for anything other than a routine foul on the play, though Westbrook was notably angry about the collision on the court. Perhaps rightfully so, as it could have been much worse for both of them. Both guys stayed in the game — although Westbrook eventually fouled out — which ended in the Thunder’s favor thanks to some heroics from Paul George.
Afterward, Westbrook wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. He was upset with Embiid and let reporters know that things between the two of them were not kosher.
Russell Westbrook on the foul from Joel Embiid, and then asked if they are “cool.” (Warning: language): pic.twitter.com/7i0ahyEFTH
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 20, 2019
“I don’t think he just landed on me,” Westbrook said. “I think had a little extra to it. You know what I’m saying? But it’s OK.”
It was a very calm, measured response to the reporter’s initial question. But he had a bit more vulgar of an answer in store for that same reporter when he asked if he was still upset.
“F*ck no,” Westbrook exclaimed when asked if things between the two of them were “cool.” Given the way the questions were asked, it’s understandable that Westbrook answered the way he did. Both questions were an opportunity for Westbrook to say what happened on the floor was just run-of-the-mill action during a game, and Russ certainly does not feel that was the case here.
Embiid, for his part, wasn’t sure what Westbrook was so mad about.
“I don’t know why he was mad, but he’s always in his feelings,” Embiid says of Westbrook’s reaction to the late fourth quarter foul.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 20, 2019
Given the demeanor of both players, a conflict like this seems inevitable, especially because they’ve gone at one another in the past. The next logical step here would be a subtweet of some sort from Embiid, but given that the score wasn’t in Philly’s favor, perhaps that will have to wait until next time.
