'I'm Against Sacrificing': Joel Embiid's Viral Quote — and the Dunk He Thought He'd Never Throw Again

The quote that went viral

Joel Embiid said he is "against the concept of sacrificing" on the Philadelphia 76ers, and that nobody on the star-loaded roster has to take a back seat. The quote, delivered after Friday's preseason finale against the Boston Celtics, spread across NBA social media within hours — because on a team now built around Embiid, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, "who gives something up?" is the only question anyone is asking.

"I'm against the concept of sacrificing," Embiid said. "I think the way I explained it was you do what you do best, and we're going to support you. … I don't think anybody has to take a back seat."

What happened in the preseason finale

Philadelphia closed its preseason on Friday with a 125-120 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics at home. The result mattered less than the rehearsal: head coach Nick Nurse gave his starters their biggest minutes of the preseason and played them well into the second half, offering the clearest look yet at how this new group fits together.

Embiid was the best player on the floor for the Sixers. He finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead Philadelphia in scoring. Maxey added 22 points and six assists, Brown scored 20 points with eight rebounds against his former team, and James finished with eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Second-year guard VJ Edgecombe was held out as a precaution, so the full starting five still has not played a game together.

The honest reviews came afterward. The group never looked fully comfortable, and Brown pointed to spacing as one of the things that still needs fixing. "We're not where we want to be yet," he said. James was calmer: "We're getting there."

The dunk Embiid thought he would never throw again

The quote was not even Embiid's only viral moment of the night. In the third quarter he drove and threw down an emphatic one-handed dunk that brought the home crowd to its feet — a finish that, given his recent injury struggles, he admitted surprised even him.

"It's good to dunk. I thought I would never dunk again," Embiid said with a smile. "I guess I don't know what happened. I kind of got possessed." He explained that he had planned to lay the ball up, saw a defender coming over to block it, and decided in mid-air to try the dunk instead. That clip — a former MVP joking that he got "possessed" — is the other half of why his name trended all weekend.

Why it's blowing up

Superteams usually launch with a speech about sacrifice. Somebody always volunteers to take fewer shots, and fans spend the season watching whether they meant it. Embiid flipped that script in one sentence, and the reaction split exactly the way you would expect. Supporters hear confidence and a locker room where every star is being told to stay aggressive. Skeptics hear a warning: four players who are used to being the first option, one basketball, and a coach who has to make the math work when the games count.

His fuller explanation was less confrontational than the headline version: he believes in Brown and Maxey doing what they do best, and in a locker room that backs a teammate as long as the play is the right one. His argument is not "every man for himself" — it is that roles should be built around strengths instead of shrinking anyone's game. Context makes it spicier: the 76ers finished the preseason 1-3, the finale loss came against a Celtics side resting key players, and the regular season starts in days.

Key facts

The quote: "I'm against the concept of sacrificing… I don't think anybody has to take a back seat."
The game: Celtics 125, 76ers 120 in overtime, Friday's preseason finale in Philadelphia.
Embiid's line: 27 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists — plus a third-quarter dunk he joked he was "possessed" on.
The other stars: Maxey 22 points, Brown 20 points and 8 rebounds, James 8 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
Missing piece: VJ Edgecombe was held out as a precaution, so the full starting five is still untested together.

What's next

Philadelphia opens the regular season on Tuesday, October 20, against the New York Knicks. That is the first real test of Embiid's theory: when a game is close in the fourth quarter, somebody's number gets called and somebody else's does not. If the Sixers win early, "no sacrifice" becomes a philosophy. If they stumble, expect this quote to be replayed after every awkward night — which is exactly why it went viral in the first place.

Sources

FAQ

What exactly did Joel Embiid say about sacrifice?

He said, "I'm against the concept of sacrificing," explaining that each 76ers player should do what they do best with the team's support, and that nobody has to take a back seat.

How did Embiid play in the preseason finale?

He led Philadelphia with 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 125-120 overtime loss to Boston, including a third-quarter dunk he joked he was "possessed" on.

Why did Embiid say he thought he would never dunk again?

Because of his recent injury struggles — after throwing down the dunk against Boston, he said with a smile that he thought he would never dunk again and did not know what happened on the play.

When do the 76ers open the regular season?

Philadelphia opens on Tuesday, October 20, against the New York Knicks — the first real test of how its star-heavy roster shares the ball.