76ers’ Joel Embiid issues strong defensive declaration in locker room after beating Knicks
Joel Embiid is very clearly not the player he once was due to all the injury problems he’s gone through over the past few years. But the Philadelphia 76ers may not need him to be his MVP-level self anyway, at least in the early goings of the season. On Tuesday night, the 76ers spoiled the New York Knicks’ ring night and handed them a 106-101 loss […] The post 76ers’ Joel Embiid issues strong…
On October 20, 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 106-101, despite Joel Embiid's subpar offensive performance. Embiid finished with 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting, most of which came from beyond the arc. He deferred to his teammates, with Tyrese Maxey leading the scoring with 28 points.
However, Embiid made a strong statement in the locker room about his defensive capabilities. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Embiid declared, "I’m going to get back to being an all-defensive team player." The 76ers' star highlighted his impact on defense, with two steals and three blocks on the night. Embiid's defensive efforts limited New York to only 37.2% shooting from the field.
Embijd also mentioned that the addition of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to the roster allowed them to afford Embiid taking it easy on the offensive end. If Embiid can return to being a major force on defense, the 76ers could be a serious contender for the NBA championship.
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