What is the history of the beef between Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid heading into their 2026 playoff series?

The Early Years and Social Media Escalation

The rivalry began heating up in early 2017 when Embiid celebrated after Towns was called for a technical foul. The feud truly escalated on social media in December 2017 when Embiid posted about 'Euro stepping our way through Minnesota' and Towns responded that the caption was 'as trash as your picture quality.' Embiid fired back about Towns' defense. Despite the barbs, Embiid stated at the time that he and Towns were friends off the court and that he was 'just having fun out there,' though he wanted to 'kick his a--' on the court.

The 2019 Physical Altercation

The rivalry reached a critical turning point on October 30, 2019, when Embiid and Towns engaged in a physical fight during a game between the 76ers and Timberwolves. The two players wrestled each other to the floor, resulting in a massive scuffle that involved both benches. Ben Simmons notably intervened by putting Towns in a headlock. Both Embiid and Towns were ejected from the game and received suspensions.

Post-Fight Social Media Battle

Following the October 30, 2019 altercation, the feud spilled onto social media with intensified personal attacks. Embiid posted that Towns' 'tough guy act ain't cutting it' and claimed to 'OWN' him, telling him to 'make the playoffs before you talk.' Towns responded by sharing photos of Embiid crying after a previous playoff series loss, captioning the posts 'All Bark & No Bite.'

Reconciliation and Recent Status

The relationship between the two players improved significantly following personal tragedy. When Towns lost his mother to COVID-19 during the pandemic, Embiid offered public support on social media. By December 2021, Towns indicated he had resolved his end of the beef. In February 2022, Embiid stated 'We're great' and acknowledged their competitive moment but explained it was basketball-related. Most recently, in an October 2024 appearance on Club Shay Shay, Towns said about Embiid: 'Me and Joel talked about it. It's just kind of funny. We just laugh about it at this point now.'

The 2026 Playoff Context

This Eastern Conference semifinals series marks the first-ever playoff matchup between Embiid and Towns despite both playing in the NBA for over a decade. Towns joined the New York Knicks and is facing his former rival's Philadelphia 76ers. The beef has been characterized as 'NBA's spiciest rivalry' heading into the series, with analysts suggesting the personal history between the two star centers could make the matchup particularly entertaining. Game 1 began on May 4, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York.