Now that the NBA offseason is in its quietest stretch of summer, all eyes have turned to Olympic basketball.
And for New York Knicks fans, the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team has represented a prime opportunity to mock and wallow in bitterness.
The U.S. Olympic roster does not include any Knicks players, but it does include some of their top rivals, who were formed largely in last year’s playoffs: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum.
A brief summary:
- Embiid became New York’s public enemy number one last spring during the incredibly close first-round playoff series between the Knicks and 76ers. Knicks fans began to hate Embiid’s tendency to draw fouls and be a You could say it’s a blatant and dirty foul. which re-injured center Mitchell Robinson’s ankle.
- Knicks fans took on Tyrese Haliburton in the second round, when Haliburton led the Pacers to a seven-game series victory over the Knicks. Haliburton’s play was inconsistent, but he reveled in the Pacers’ victories, jumping around the court and trash-talking fans, leading some fans to call him “the favorite.” Haliburton taunted the Knicks and their fans after Game 7 by wearing a Reggie Miller jersey making the choke sign to Spike Lee.
- While the Knicks and Celtics haven’t had any major battles during Tatum’s career, Tatum and the Celtics represent the class of the East. The Knicks had a good chance to match up against Tatum and the Celtics this year if the Knicks were healthy, and the Knicks’ revamped roster is looking to compete with Boston.
Now, Knicks fans can revel in the struggles of these players.
Embiid has had a spotty experience in the Olympics so far. His attempts to draw fouls in international play haven’t worked out as well, leading to some viral moments.
https://t.co/LXTPe05j24 image.twitter.com/MkD0e9YjSr
— Rob Pérez (@WorldWideWob) July 17, 2024
Embiid was -8 in the United States’ 110-84 win over Serbia on Sunday, prompting ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins to call for Embiid to be benched.
Meanwhile, Tatum and Haliburton did not enter the game. The decision to leave Tatum out, in particular, came under intense scrutiny from head coach Steve Kerr.
These struggles and lack of playing time prompted some criticism from Knicks fans.
Celtics fans are CRYING ? https://t.co/u4Tpmv4gz6 image.twitter.com/lS4MDiuJbS
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) July 28, 2024
The US wins and I get some slander about Hali and Tatum? photo.twitter.com/a0uY7qpqIV
— Kazeem Famuyide ?? ? (@Kazeem) July 28, 2024
Tatum: “Why am I not playing?”
Hali: “I can’t believe I’m here” photo.twitter.com/Ogpvh4x6UR
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) July 28, 2024
Embiid, Tatum and Hali were slandered today? image.twitter.com/Qe3gceSnYD
— NYK (@sitenyk) July 28, 2024
Jalen Brunson just scored the same amount of points as Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton COMBINED in the first half for Team USA. ?
Jalen Brunson has a broken hand. photo.twitter.com/7qcz4j5KJj
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) July 28, 2024
+16 so far when Tatum is off the court ? https://t.co/fvkxPXOQUl
— Xavier Justin (@xavierjdesigns) July 28, 2024
Team USA is on a roll and Embiid was awful. A perfect first game
—Bryan Gibberman (@BryanGibberman) July 28, 2024
I don’t understand why people hate Kerr in this game.
They won by 26
Embiid was sent to the bench
Tatum and Haliburton played 0 minutes combined
What a great day
– Chef Kranis (@Chef_Kranis) July 28, 2024
Of course, fans of the Sixers, Pacers and Celtics might have rightly noticed that the American Basketball Association apparently didn’t want any Knicks players. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart played on last summer’s World Cup team that didn’t win a medal.
But it wouldn’t be the NBA offseason or NBA Twitter without meanness and trolling.
