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NBA Crew Chief Reacts to Joel Embiid’s Ejection in 76ers-Spurs Game

Why was Joel Embiid whistled for the controversial foul against Victor Wembanyama?

Justin Grasso

Dec 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) fall to the floor after colliding during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Dec 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) fall to the floor after colliding during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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Joel Embiid had an early night on Monday. As the Philadelphia 76ers center returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s action against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Embiid found himself heading to the locker room in just the second quarter.

This time, his early exit was due to an ejection.

After getting whistled for an offensive foul against San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, Embiid was visibly upset with the call. When the situation escalated, Embiid was hit with double technical fouls. After the game, the night’s Crew Chief Curtis Blair explained the reason behind the technical foul.

“After postgame review there is incidental contact with both of them,” Blair said on the pool report. “It was incidental in nature. There was nothing that warranted any further punishment. It was just incidental in nature.”

As for the ejection itself, there wasn’t much of an explanation from Blair.

“He was given two unsportsmanlike technical fouls which by rule is an automatic ejection,” he finished.

Embiid left the game after playing for 14 minutes. The All-Star center scored nine points on 2-8 shooting from the field. He also had three rebounds, one assist, and two steals.

Despite losing Embiid to an ejection and also losing the veteran big man Andre Drummond to a toe injury, the Sixers survived the second half. With a strong effort from Guerschon Yabusele, who scored 17 points in 32 minutes, along with a clutch masterclass from the All-Star Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers were in good hands without Embiid on the floor.

Philadelphia defeated San Antonio 111-106. They move to 10-17 on the season.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Title: Credentialed writer/reporter covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation Email: JustinGrasso32@Gmail.com Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Reporting, insight, and analysis on the Sixers and the NBA  Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation.  Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association.  Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA

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