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76ers Rookie Reveals Joel Embiid’s Thoughts on Foul-Baiting

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dean Koutouratsas | Last updated May 22, 2025 5:39 PM ET

The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks, 138-135, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday inside Madison Square Garden.

During the first quarter, with two minutes, 50 seconds remaining on the clock, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson drew a personal foul on Pacers guard T.J. McConnell. The play received mixed reactions from members of the AT&T Connected Cam, who thought Brunson was foul-baiting. However, Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain responded differently because he thought it was a smart play.

McCain, 21, said he talked about using the method with his teammate and all-star center Joel Embiid, who has used it to draw fouls. McCain added that it’s a smart play and can be used to manipulate the game in your favor.

Jared McCain on 'foul-baiting' in the NBA:

"Even when I talk to Joel [Embiid] about it, he think's it just playing the game smart. Knowing how to manipulate the game in your own way." ️ @ATT pic.twitter.com/xeBoVrOBz9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2025

“Even when I talk to Joel (Embiid) about it, he thinks it’s just playing the game smart,” McCain said. “Knowing how to manipulate the game in your own way.”

Foul-baiting refers to the act of a player intentionally trying to draw a foul while being tightly guarded to force a stoppage or a trip to the free-throw line. Players like Embiid and Brunson do this by falling toward their defenders when taking a shot to force the defender to make contact with them.

Brunson did it again during Wednesday’s game by using his arm to force Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith’s hand to smack his eye. The forced contact was not called a foul but was another example of foul-baiting.

Game 2 of the Pacers and Knicks series is on Friday, so watch closely for more instances of foul-baiting so you can determine for yourself if it’s a smart tactic or not. The game begins at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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