The Phoenix Suns ran into a tough challenge in Philadelphia, and it wasn’t just Tyrese Maxey’s scoring explosion that gave them problems. Joel Embiid, still working his way back from injury, looked more like his dominant self - and the Sixers reaped the benefits.
Philadelphia came away with the win, powered by Embiid’s 33-point, nine-rebound performance. He was in control from the jump, drawing contact, getting to the line, and making life difficult for Phoenix’s frontcourt. But not everyone was thrilled with how he got there.
Dillon Brooks, never one to hold back, was candid postgame when asked about guarding Embiid.
“I can guard the flopping and all that,” Brooks said. “Went to the line 13 times.
It’s a lot, especially for stuff that’s not even a shooting foul. It’s a great crew of refs that were reffing the game for Philly tonight.”
That wasn’t just a throwaway line. Brooks’ comments tap into a broader conversation around Embiid’s playing style - one that’s been brewing for years. Just last week, Kings analyst Kayte Christensen weighed in, questioning the need for Embiid to lean into contact the way he does.
“I think sometimes there's a little bit of flopping going on… throwing yourself into a defender and getting the benefit of a whistle, you're too good for that,” Christensen said.
It’s a fair point. Embiid’s skill set is undeniable - footwork, touch, size, and power.
He doesn’t need to sell contact to be effective, but he often does. Whether that’s gamesmanship or just part of the modern NBA is up for debate, but the results speak for themselves.
He’s getting to the line, putting up big numbers, and helping the Sixers win games.
And that’s the rub for defenders like Brooks. You can game plan for Embiid’s post moves.
You can try to match his physicality. But when he’s drawing fouls at a high clip - even on marginal contact - it changes the way you have to defend.
It forces players to dial back aggression, and that’s a tough adjustment against someone who already has a size and skill advantage.
Brooks’ frustration is understandable. Guarding Embiid means dealing with more than just his scoring - it’s the whistles, the rhythm-breaking trips to the line, the mental toll. And while fans and analysts can debate the aesthetics of how Embiid plays, the Sixers will take the production any day.
Until the league adjusts how it officiates those plays - and there’s no sign of that happening anytime soon - Embiid has every reason to keep doing what works. For defenders, it’s just part of the job.
“I can guard the flopping and all that. Went to the line 13 times. It’s a lot, especially for stuff that’s not even a shooting foul. It’s a great crew of refs that were reffing the game for Philly tonight.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 8, 2026
Dillon Brooks speaks on what it was like guarding Joel Embiid tonight 👀… pic.twitter.com/a2R2N66oiA
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