NBA fans roundly criticized Atlanta Hawks fans for cheering raucously when Joel Embiid went down, holding his knee in Game 3.
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The Sixers made short work of the Hawks in an anticlimactic Game 3 and surged to a 2-1 series lead. They got contributions from all around the team, and Atlanta just couldn’t match their offense at all.
Trae Young tried his best, but he could do precious little to prevent the Sixers from taking a 2-1 series lead today. Joel Embiid was, as usual, in his element, but he appeared to be playing in a rather guarded fashion most of the evening.
At one point, Embiid seemed to be playing through an injury problem even during the game. But instead of admiring the man’s resolve, Hawks fans cheered when he grabbed his knee in the pettiest fashion possible.
Did Hawks fans actually cheer when Embiid grabbed his knee?
Yikes.pic.twitter.com/aSEvhfSe7T
— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) June 12, 2021
NBA fans roast Hawks fans for cheering when Joel Embiid got injured
This kind of hateful behaviour has never been appreciated by sports fans, and we weren’t about to start today. Those Hawks fans who engaged in this behaviour were put down by all sections of NBA Twitter.
Need confirmation if Hawks fans cheered when Embiid started limping.
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) June 12, 2021
I’m sure you could hear this one on the TV, but it happened again…
Embiid goes up, fouls Capela, comes down hard & grabs his knee. Hawks fans cheer louder than they did the first time. Collins even tells the crowd to stop.
What is happening here?
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) June 12, 2021
Apparently, cheering Embiid ironically once wasn’t enough for Hawks fans, some of whom doubtless think he’s faking it. It makes no sense as a decent sports fan to cheer for any player getting injured in his line of duty.
For the second time tonight, Hawks fans cheered after Joel Embiid got hurt
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) June 12, 2021
Some people are asking why Hawks fans seem to be so sheltered with regards to coverage of their bad karma by the mainstream sports media – including alternative news sources and beat writers.
Hawks fans were cheering Embiid appearing to be injured btw but ESPN wont run with anti atlanta fan narratives
— Hoops Reference (@HoopsReference) June 12, 2021
Am I trippin or is that the second time Hawks fans appeared to cheer when Joel Embiid appeared to be hurt? Come on man…
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 12, 2021