NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Joel Embiid’s return to the No. 7 seed Philadelphia Sixers helped spark an impressive first-round victory over the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs.
Now, the former NBA MVP is asking Sixers fans to make sure they don’t sell tickets to fans of their next opponent: the New York Knicks.
The Knicks, led by All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, defeated the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their series, collecting a record 51-point victory on the road to advance to the next round. They were watching Game 7 between the Sixers and Celtics closely, and Philadelphia made the comeback happen, with Embiid scoring a game-high 34 points in the victory.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers watches the fourth quarter of Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on May 2, 2026. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
It was quite a rally for the Sixers, coming back from a 3-1 hole. But they now face a familiar playoff foe, and Embiid implored fans to make sure they’re in a good seat and not just a trip down the New Jersey Turnpike.
“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said after the Sixers won Game 7, according to ESPN. “The last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need support.
76ERS’ JOEL EMBIID FACES ACCUSATIONS OF ‘flop’ AFTER PHILLY’S GAME 7 VICTORY AGAINST CELTICS
“Don’t sell your tickets. It’s bigger than you. We need you guys.”
Tickets became a topic of discussion during the teams’ 2024 matchup, where Sixers owners attempted to block Knicks fans from purchasing tickets at their arena for Game 6, where Philadelphia needed to win to move on. The Knicks ended up winning the series on the road.
At the time, Embiid shared a similar message, admitting that “it kind of pisses me off” that Sixers fans are outnumbered by the Knicks.
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers watches the first half of game seven against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on May 2, 2026. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“Philly is considered a sports town,” he added.
It’s no secret that Knicks fans travel, especially if the road city is as close as Philadelphia. They are also expected to try to flood Xfinity Mobile Arena this time around.
“There will be people who sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you,” Embiid reiterated. “We need support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’m at your disposal.”
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter of Game 6 against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on April 30, 2026. (Elsa/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Embiid and the Sixers will see if fans tuned in for Game 3 of the upcoming series, as the Knicks, the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 seed, host them at Madison Square Garden for Games 1 and 2, starting Monday. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Embiid averaged 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the final four games of the series after missing the first three due to an appendectomy.
