Edie Falco’s most famous role almost went from small screen infamy to reality based on her feelings as a New York sports fan and her hatred for Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.
Falco, as a guest on the ‘Roommates Show,’ hosted by Knicks duo Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, admitted wanting to ‘chase’ Embiid during the playoff series between New York and Philadelphia earlier this year.
His anger at one of the NBA’s best stems from Embiid’s elbow to Brunson during Game 4 of that Eastern Conference series. The Knicks would eventually surpass the 76ers in six games.
That the 7-foot, 280-pound Embiid is in a fight with the 61-year-old Falco seems a little absurd on paper. New York sports fans are unique.
And maybe someone should never doubt Carmela Soprano after everything she had to face as the wife of a mob boss.
“Joel Embiid, he’s bad,” Falco told Brunson. ‘He elbowed you in a game last year and I was going to go after him. I mean, that’s how bad it was. And then I think I’ve seen you play since then and you all are great with each other. I say, “Don’t you hold a grudge?”
Edie Falco, who played Carmela Soprano, said she wanted to “go after” Joel Embiid.
Embiid’s elbow to Jalen Brunson angered New Yorkers during the postseason earlier this year.
Brunson clarified that he didn’t like Embiid’s elbow, but he has no hard feelings toward the Team USA star.
In the future, Embiid and Brunson could be teammates on the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 2028 Olympics or in an All-Star Game.
Playing for the 76ers and the Knicks, the duo is also guaranteed to be opponents several times a year leading up to the postseason.
Falco herself won three Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Carmela Soprano and has found success in other roles since the show.
There’s no doubt she’s a big New York sports fan, and that Sopranos part never airs.