Timberwolves

Danny Green Sheds Light On KAT and Joel Embiid's Relationship

Photo Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Danny Green joined Ryen Russillo on a recent podcast to discuss the Ben Simmons-James Harden trade and gauge the Philadelphia 76ers’ outlook for the season. However, Green and Russillo touched on a variety of topics, including Joel Embiid’s relationship with Karl-Anthony Towns.

“It seems like [Embiid is] trying to get Karl-Anthony Towns to retire whenever he plays him,” Russillo said, prompting Green.

“They used to go at it, man,” said Green. “They’re both competitors.”

They respect each other now. Sometimes it takes a fight, sometimes it takes – well, it shouldn’t take something tragic to happen. But the things that KAT went through during COVID, that allowed them to rekindle (their relationship).

Because originally they were friends, to begin with, from my understanding. I could be wrong, don’t quote me on this, but from my understanding, I thought they were cool. But Joel just likes to troll and likes to compete and all that on the court. Go at it. 

And then they got into a fight, and I guess, whatever, let bygones be bygones. So be it. But then, you know, something like that can bring guys that are enemies together. When you see the world or families or people that you know in your fraternity going through something, even if you aren’t on the same page, it allows them to kind of – now they talk as they speak, say hello. 

Not saying that they didn’t before, but they’re on a different wavelength now than they were prior to COVID.

Embiid and Towns got into a fight during an October 2019 game in Philadelphia.

The donnybrook had been brewing for years. Embiid had taunted Towns in January 2017 when Towns was assessed a technical foul in Philadelphia. Embiid then posted a picture of him Eurostepping past Towns on Instagram.

“That caption was as trash as your picture quality,” Towns commented.

“Better quality than your defense,” Embiid responded.

The two star big-men appear to have squashed their beef last year when Embiid played in his first game back from COVID against the Timberwolves. Towns lost his mother and several family members to the coronavirus.

“That’s bigger than basketball,” he said, sympathizing with Embiid after his battle with COVID. “I’ve seen people die from that.”

Rivalries are the lifeblood of all sports. And in a player-driven league like the NBA, fans pack the arena to see guys like Towns and Embiid go at it on the court. But their friendship appeared to devolve into something mean-spirited, and emotions boiled over in their October 2019 fight in Philly.

Green eloquently lays out how two players can go from high school buddies to bitter rivals to worthy adversaries. And, to be fair to Towns, his defense has improved since that Instagram post.

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