INDIANAPOLIS — John Starks issued a formal apology to Joel Embiid.
As a spectator of games in Philadelphia, the former All-Star guard and current Knicks Director of Alumni Relations said he was trash-talking Embiid not knowing the Sixers center was banged up.
“Embiid, he did that dunk and he hit the floor, I’m over there, ‘Get up! You want this smoke? Get up!’ Starks said on the podcast, “Roommates Show,” with hosts Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. “They call timeout and the coaches coming there like [to me], ‘C’mon, stop.’
“And I’m like, ‘Nah, he want this smoke get his ass up off the ground.’ I was going off. And then when I found out what was going on, I felt bad, man. My bad, bro. I apologize to you, Joel. And I admire that you’re a warrior, man.”
It’s unclear which play Starks was referencing because he attended multiple Knicks-Sixers games, including as a very animated courtside spectator in Game 4 in Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid and the Sixers lost to the Knicks in Round 1 of the playoffs. AP
In Game 1 at MSG, Embiid converted an alley-oop to himself off the backboard and crashed to the court in pain.
Days later it was revealed that Embiid, who had knee surgery during the season, was also dealing with a case of Bell’s Palsy.
Starks, who has been attending all the Knicks home playoff games next to several former players, said he was fired up after comments from backup center Paul Reed, who declared before the series that the Knicks were Philadelphia’s preferred matchup.
John Starks, left, Stephon Marbury, second from left, Latrell Sprewell, second from right, and Carmello Anthony, right, cheer during the second half of Game 5. APThe Knicks won the series in six games.
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In an interview with the Post’s Angela Barbuti last week, Starks said Embiid should’ve been ejected from Game 3 because of his antics — which included a takedown of Mitchell Robinson from the court.
“During the regular season, he probably would have been gone, but this is the playoffs. The league wants their stars out there on the floor because it makes for good basketball,” Starks said.
