Joel Embiid: Hassan Whiteside dirtily tried to hit me in back, but he hits too soft (video)

76ers center Joel Embiid and Heat center Hassan Whiteside have a personal rivalry brewing.

It flared up during the Heat’s win over the 76ers last night.

The centers tangled running up the court in the third quarter. Officials called a technical foul on Whiteside and a personal foul on Embiid.

Embiid, via Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports Philadelphia:

“Looking at the replay, it looked like I didn’t touch him,” Embiid said. “Then they called a double foul. [He] tried hit me in the back, which is kind of dirty because of the fact that I’ve had back problems. So we’re going to see about that. I won’t forget about that.

“But I didn’t think I touched him. But then they called a technical foul on him because obviously he’s the one that made a dirty play.”

“He hits really soft, so I didn’t feel anything,” Embiid said. “But just the action of him trying to do that I think is pretty messed up. I don’t care what we have outside of basketball but at the same time, you’ve got to respect the rules of basketball and play basketball and have fun doing it. But I’m not worried about it. We lost the game. Right now I’m worried about are we going to get better.”

You’re dirty for hitting me in the back AND you hit too soft for me to feel it? That’s a diss in every direction. Embiid is really good at trash-talking.

Philadelphia and Miami aren’t scheduled to play again this season, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Whiteside collects himself and responds on Twitter.

These are two proud players battling for supremacy in their conference at their position. I doubt either backs down.