Jusuf Nurkic Calls Out Joel Embiid for Being a “Skill Player”

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic had a fine fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers, helping lead his team to a dramatic, come-from-behind win. But as NBCSportsNW chronicled after the game, Nurkic wasn’t done after the final horn. During post-game interviews, he called out Sixers center Joel Embiid, famous for his high draft position, 20ppg scoring average, and social media presence. Apparently Nurkic was impressed by none of those things.

Portland’s center scored 21 points on 39% shooting from the field against Embiid and the Sixers, accumulating 12 rebounds and 5 personal fouls. Embiid scored 29 on 43% shooting, 50% (6-12) from the three-point arc as Blazers bigs, including Nurkic, were unwilling or unable to chase him to that range. Embiid picked up 4 personal fouls, including a fourth-quarter Flagrant 1 after skillfully applying a skillful nudge which somehow sent Nurkic careening across the floor as if he had been felled by an oncoming train.