Joel Embiid offers to pay fans amid Knicks ticket warning
After leading Philadelphia past the Celtics, 76ers star Joel Embiid turns his focus to an old problem from the last Knicks playoff matchup.
The Philadelphia 76ers are headed to the second round after one of the most dramatic comebacks in franchise history. Now, Joel Embiid is already focused on making sure history doesn’t repeat itself off the court.
Philadelphia rallied from a 3–1 deficit to eliminate the Boston Celtics in seven games, marking just the 14th such comeback in NBA history. It was also a breakthrough moment for Embiid, who finally got past Boston in a playoff series after years of frustration.
But as the celebration spilled into the locker room, Embiid quickly shifted the conversation toward the team’s next opponent, the New York Knicks.
And he had a very specific request for Sixers fans.
“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said after the Game 7 win. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support. Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”
"If you need the money, I got you."
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 3, 2026
Sixers fans DO NOT sell your tickets ‼️ pic.twitter.com/qW7rYv4JO5
A comeback...and a quick reality check
Philadelphia’s path to the second round was anything but smooth. Embiid missed the first three games of the series against the Celtics after undergoing an appendectomy, leaving the Sixers on the brink of elimination. When he finally returned, everything changed.
Over the final four games, Embiid averaged 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, including a dominant 34-point, 12-rebound performance in Game 7. His return fueled a turnaround that not only stunned Boston, but also snapped multiple streaks, including Philadelphia’s 0–18 record when trailing 3–1 in a series.
Embiid’s concern about the Knicks fans taking over Philadelphia is not random. The last time the Sixers faced the Knicks in the playoffs, during the 2024 first-round series, New York Knicks fans flooded Wells Fargo Center, creating a road-like atmosphere in Philadelphia’s own building. New York went on to win that series in six games, clinching it on the Sixers’ home floor. The visual of a sea of Knicks fans celebrating in Philadelphia stuck with players, especially Embiid.
At the time, he didn’t hide his frustration.
“It kind of pisses me off,” Embiid said back then. “Especially because Philly is considered a sports town.”
That memory clearly hasn’t faded. Embiid doubled down on his plea this time around, even acknowledging the financial reality behind ticket sales.
“Knicks fans travel. They buy tickets,” he said. “There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys.”
Then came the line that quickly went viral: “If you need money, I’ve got you.”
The comment was partly tongue-in-cheek, but the message behind it was serious. Philadelphia wants a true home-court advantage, something they didn’t have the last time these teams met in the playoffs.
This second-round matchup adds another chapter to a growing rivalry between two of the league’s most intense fanbases. The series will begin at Madison Square Garden before shifting to Philadelphia, where Embiid is hoping for a very different environment this time around. The Knicks have built a reputation for traveling well, often turning opposing arenas into hostile territory. And Embiid knows it.
This isn’t just about crowd noise or optics. For the Sixers, this postseason represents a chance to redefine their trajectory after years of playoff disappointment. They’ve already cleared one major hurdle by eliminating Boston. Now comes a matchup loaded with history, intensity, and, if Embiid gets his way, a much more unified home crowd.
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