The war of words between Embiid and the Grizzlies had been going on for quite some time.
It had turned this Christmas Day Game, which had originally drawn only average attention, into a highly anticipated showdown.
As everyone knew, Embiid had a big mouth and loved stirring up trouble. That had long since become the norm.
Link, meanwhile, had never been one to fear trouble. He did not go around provoking people, but he would not easily let off opponents who took the initiative to start something either.
Fans believed that with these two "dangerous elements" showing so much hostility, they might actually come to blows on Christmas Day.
After all, it had not been that long since the incident where Embiid and Towns locked each other up in a man-on-man grapple.
Of course, that was absolutely not why fans were looking forward to this game. In a fighting match, it was only inevitable that there would occasionally be a few basketball moves.
No, that was backwards...
The fans simply wanted to watch an exciting basketball game. They definitely were not hoping that Link and Embiid would start throwing punches on the court.
This game was full of gimmicks. Canadian fighting superstar Georges St-Pierre, "GSP," announced that he would be attending in person, since this "match" needed a professional referee.
Conor McGregor, "The Notorious," one of UFC's biggest stars, also showed off his ticket to the Christmas Day Game and said, "I'm really looking forward to this crossover battle."
Link stared at all the reports on his phone, completely speechless. Why was the narrative around this game getting weirder and weirder? Why were all these fighting stars showing up?
I'm a legitimate basketball player!
What the hell do they take me for?
*Am I the kind of person who loves