Hornets Announcer Calls Out Joel Embiid With “Free Throw Merchant” Remark on Live TV
Broadcast moments don’t usually hijack the game, but this one did change the script mid-possession. As Joel Embiid kept doing his thing (drawing contact, controlling tempo, stacking points), the commentary booth became the loudest arena in the building.
Because with Embiid, the conversation never stays quiet now, does it? And when you mix elite production with heavy trips to the line, it’s only a matter of time before someone says what everyone’s thinking, especially on live TV.
That’s exactly what happened on March 28, 2026, when Charlotte Hornets announcer Eric Collins went viral during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 118-114 comeback win. Reacting to Embiid drawing contact on Grant Williams, Collins called it as he saw it:
“This guy is an absolute merchant… He’s a free throw merchant!”
Eric Collins on Joel Embiid 👀
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 28, 2026
"This guy is an absolute merchant… he's a free throw merchant."pic.twitter.com/pcXSZp1d66
The clip spread in a jiffy. Collins doubled down, pointing out that Embiid initiated contact. Meanwhile, the box score told its own story – 29 points, 10-of-13 from the line, and a clutch block on Brandon Miller to seal it. Criticism or not, the 32-year-old controlled the game when it mattered.
Joel Embiid and Paul George Make Big Returns as 76ers Cruise Past Bulls
Embiid finally returned to the Philadelphia 76ers lineup on Wednesday, having missed 13 games with a right oblique strain. He wasn’t alone; Paul George also came back following a 25-game suspension.
The duo wasted no time showing they were still sharp. Embiid dropped 35 points with six boards and seven assists, while George added 28 points, four steals, and solid efficiency in a 157-137 rout of the Chicago Bulls.
Injuries have limited Joel Embiid to 33 games this season. Philadelphia sits 39-33 in seventh place in the East, just 1.5 games behind fifth-place Toronto, meaning they’ll likely need to steer through the play-in tournament to secure a playoff spot.
Hornets Announcer Calls Out Joel Embiid With “Free Throw Merchant” Remark on Live TV
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