Fans Accusing Joel Embiid of Trying to Avoid Matchup With NBA Star (Again)

Joel Embiid played his best basketball of the summer on Tuesday as Team USA raced out to a massive halftime lead over Brazil in the Olympic quarterfinals.

The Philadelphia 76ers superstar didn't leave the bench after intermission as his team cruised to victory, though, begging the question whether he was once again benched after notching a DNP-CD in the Americans' Group C win over South Sudan.

Coach Steve Kerr clarified Embiid's status after the game, noting he was held out from the second half as a precaution due to ankle soreness .

Clearly, Team USA is doing everything it can to ensure Embiid is healthy enough to take the floor for a highly anticipated matchup with Serbia on Thursday in the Olympic Semifinals.

Unsurprisingly, that reality didn't stop some basketball fans from reverting back to the familiar trope that Embiid is intentionally avoiding another battle with Nikola Jokic.

The NBA world was left aghast in late January after news broke that Embiid wouldn't play in the Sixers' upcoming matchup with the Nuggets due to ongoing knee soreness.

Embiid returned to the court two games later amid widespread criticism, hobbling up and down the Chase Center floor before Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga landed on his ailing left knee, resulting in further injury that ultimately required surgery.

Critiques of Embiid's longstanding inability to stay healthy are fair game. Any notion he's spent multiple years intentionally ducking matchups with Jokic is anything but, though, and not just because Embiid has racked up a 6-2 career record against the three-time MVP.

Keep your fingers crossed Embiid is healthy enough to play on Thursday, setting the stage for another must-watch clash between the two best big men in the world.

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