Star center Joel Embiid has a simple plea for Philadelphia 76ers fans ahead of the team’s Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with the New York Knicks: Don’t sell your tickets to New Yorkers.
Knicks fans famously took over the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia when the two teams met in the first round of the playoffs two years ago, and Embiid doesn’t want to experience a repeat performance of that.
Joel Embiid Urges Philadelphia 76ers Fans Not to Sell Tickets to Knicks Fans
GettyDonte DiVincenzo #0 of the New York Knicks blocks Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of game six of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on May 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
The Knicks have homecourt advantage in the series, but Games 3 and 4 (and potentially Game 6) will take place in Philadelphia.
“I just have a message for our fans. Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Xfinity Mobile Arena] was Madison Square Garden East. So, we’re going to need the support. Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys. The atmosphere that we’ve had the last couple games in Philly, especially the last one, pushing it to Game 7. We need all of it,” Embiid said.
“… Knicks fans they travel. They’re going to buy the tickets and there’s going to be some people that need the money and are probably going to sell tickets. But don’t do it. We need you guys. We got a pretty good chance. We’re going to need our support. We’re going to need them to be extremely loud.”
Embiid ended his plea with a joke.
“If you need money, I got you.”
Joel Embiid Finally Beat the Boston Celtics in a Playoff Series
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 26: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers pumps up the crowd during the first half of game four of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Sixers have a lot of momentum heading into their series with the Knicks, as they’re on a three-game winning streak. They fell behind the Boston Celtics 3-1 in the first round, but rallied and successfully completed the comeback.
By besting the Celtics in a series, Embiid finally got a major monkey off of his back. He had lost to Boston in the first three series that he played against the in his career, including in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2023.
While winning a first-round series wasn’t the ultimate goal for the Sixers, Embiid did admit that it felt good to finally get the better of Boston after years of failed attempts.
“It feels good to win. Obviously we got a bigger goal in mind,” Embiid said. “But finally beating these guys feels pretty good.”
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