Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has pleaded with the team’s fans to not sell their tickets to New York Knicks supporters when they face each other in the NBA playoffs, even offering to cover the cost himself.
Embiid and the Sixers are set to meet the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals after their miraculous come-from-behind series win over the Boston Celtics, which saw them fight back from 3-1 down before coming out on top in Saturday’s crucial Game 7.
Before that victory, Philly had gone an NBA-record 0-18 when trailing 3-1 in a series, while Boston was 32-0 when holding that lead.
Now the Sixers turn their attention to the Knicks, who flexed their muscles as strong championship contenders with a historic 140-89 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, in which they racked up the largest halftime lead of all time (83-36).
And as they prepare to lock horns with New York, Embiid has begged Philly fans to resist the urge to cash in on their tickets and show up to support them at Wells Fargo Center.
‘I just have a message for our fans,’ the former NBA MVP said after their Game 7 win over the Celtics. ‘Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support.
Joel Embiid has pleaded with 76ers fans to not sell their playoff tickets to Knicks supporters
The New York faithful took over Wells Fargo Center when the two teams met back in 2024
‘Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.’
Knicks fans flooded Wells Fargo Center when the two teams met in the postseason two years ago, having seemingly purchased tickets from Sixers rivals.
Philly’s owners attempted to block them from buying tickets for Game 6, but New York won that game anyway to wrap up the series.
Embiid called out his own fans at the time after admitting it ‘kind of p***es me off’ that so many Knicks fans swarmed the arena.
And this time around he’s desperate to avoid a similar disaster from playing out.
‘Knicks fans travel – they buy tickets,’ Embiid said. ‘There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud.
‘If you need money, I’ve got you.’
