It seems like Joel Embiid hasn’t learned his lesson since last year. After getting fined $35ooo for performing the rather obscene and old WWE D-Generation X celebration, he’s done it once again in Paris. Yes! Despite a lackluster performance overall and the constant booing he faced from the French crowd, yesterday’s performance against Brazil left him a little too excited. His choice of celebration even left a former NBA champion, and fans in splits.

It all happened in the second quarter when the Dream Team 2.0 got a basket just two minutes into the second quarter. It was then when Embiid performed the WWE celebration gesture toward the crowd, who booed the Sixer throughout the Olympics.

The plain face celebration from Embiid even compelled rapper-turned-sports commentator, Snoop Dogg, sitting on the sidelines, to perform the same step belonging to WWE’s DX faction. Post-game when this whole sight got a reaction from former Cavaliers star Richard Jefferson, compelling him to be left in a frenzy with his expressions.

Apparently, the celebration that Joel Embiid performed dates back to October 1997. After the formation of the D-Generation X faction that year in July, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H repetitively performed the crotch chop facing the hostile WWE audience. The celebration moves that they performed involved their hands pointing toward their own crotch in the shape of “V.” As the years passed, it evolved to a variant with crossed hands, making the letter “X.”

It was and still is considered one of the most profane celebration moves and a crude comeback to the audience for hostility. However, that’s what the DX faction was known for. They were undisciplined, used to deliver evoking and offending rumors, along with immature pranks on the ring. But that was all part of their act.

Contrarily, the stage at which Team USA is representing their nation is the Olympics. The whole world watches every single activity a player does while he is being televised. If that’d been the NBA, Embiid would have gotten another fine for a technical foul, as it is a “raunch and obscene gesture.”

Fans think it’s the “Ant effect” for Joel Embiid

It was quite hilarious how Embiid performed that move since, even during the move, his hands were dilly-dallying like they were let loose on the noose. One of the fans, however, recalled the same sight from the exhibition game against Serbia when Anthony Edwards pulled off the same celebration quite braggingly. That’s why the IG user commented, “The Ant effect lol.”

It looks like Ant did compel Joel to perform the move at that time, but he was aware of not losing control. Even Edwards has performed the move in the past against the Phoenix Suns when he made a pass across the court straight to Rudy Gobert, who later put the ball into the basketball during the first round of playoffs last season.

One of the IG users who commented on the post seemed to be the ex-MVP’s fan as he commented, “Ima keep it real. The way they been booing him there it’s valid.”

Well, it’s kind of justified, considering all that Embiid went through. First, it was his spot at the starters, then the performances or a single bad turnover. If it was related to Embiid, it was controversial. That’s why when the Sixers star Joel Embiid got the chance to get back to them. He did not let it slide at all.

Another fan took a dig at the Embiid cheekily with his comment, “He hanging with AntMan for too long 😂.”

It’s been a month since the Team USA athletes have assembled for their gold run. And Anthony Edwards has always been quite expressive of his emotions and feelings on and off the court. On the other end, Joel Embiid has a somewhat straighter face most of the time. Probably explains why Embiid picking up on Ant-Man’s traits. It’s the company!

A sarcastic IG user took out the bitter-sweet experience of Embiid publicly as he commented, “At least he can’t get fined right😂😂.” Yes, the NBA did officially fine him for doing this “crotch chop” in November 2023 against the Portland Trail Blazers. The celebration from Embiid looked like a reply to the foul he drew from guard Malcolm Brogdon before the basket.

And it was not the first time that the 7x NBA All-Star did it. In the 2022-23 season also, he made the same gesture against the Brooklyn Nets. Likely, the response came after he scored a basket while getting a foul. The Sixers star kept himself away from it for quite a long. But it looks good company of Ant-Man has woken up the beast inside the seven-footer.

What do you all think of it? Is the demeanor of Joel Embiid justified in performing such a gesture on the international stage? Let us know in the comments.

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.