Fresh off of dominating reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets to the tune of 47 points, 18 rebounds and five assists in Philadelphia's 126-119 comeback victory on Saturday afternoon, 76ers center Joel Embiid expressed his feelings regarding not being voted as a starter for the All-Star game this season.
Embiid was selected as a starter in each of the previous five seasons, but didn't make the cut this season as he came in fourth in frontcourt voting in the Eastern Conference behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum. Embiid is widely considered as the biggest starter snub. But, while the big man felt slighted, the news didn't come as a shock.
"Having been a starter the last five years, it is kind of disrespectful. I don't think anybody has had a better year than me," Embiid said to media members. "… I was not surprised. I think it's well documented that I'm not well-liked and that's cool. I don't know if it's because I troll a lot or that I guess I'm an asshole, but it's cool. I keep being me. I keep being an asshole and I keep trolling and if people don't like it, that's their problem."
As a two-time MVP runner-up who feels like he should have won the award at least once, Embiid has grown accustomed to slights — actual or perceived. This season, he's trying to use them to fuel team success for the Sixers.