No player had a more emotional response to Kawhi Leonard’s incredible, bouncing buzzer-beater than Joel Embiid. From the moment that shot dropped, Embiid was holding back tears as he congratulated Raptors players on the court.
When Embiid made his way into the tunnel, he was visibly crying. The TNT broadcast briefly showed the tearful Embiid making his way up the tunnel, but the broadcast cut away before an emotional exchange with his girlfriend, Sports Illustrated model Anne De Paula.
NBC Sports Philadelphia did, however, capture the impassioned moment outside the Sixers locker room. We could see as a tearful De Paula greeted the crying Embiid and consoled him after the tough loss.
Embiid went public about his relationship with De Paula back in October of last year.
After the game, Embiid was asked to describe the emotional reaction to such a heartbreaking loss. He struggled to put it into words but said, “A lot of things go through your mind. It sucks. I can’t explain it, it just sucks.”
He’s since had the support of Sixers fans, including a sweet letter from a 9-year-old.
