The 2019 NBA Playoffs will likely serve as a wake-up call for Sixers big man Joel Embiid. The All-Star center battled illness and fatigue all series long, and by the time Kawhi Leonard shocked the 76ers with a bouncing, series-clinching buzzer-beater, Embiid could be seen exiting the court as an emotionally drained (and devastated) star. As Leonard’s shot — which was made over Embiid — finally dropped, Embiid stood there in shock. He put his hands on his head and then made his way around the court to congratulate the Raptors players — all while holding back tears. Marc Gasol was the first player who approached Embiid to offer words of encouragement. Marc Gasol was the first to go hug a crying Joel Embiid after the game. The world doesn’t deserve this man. pic.twitter.com/RkZoUK4Ir4 — Made in Memphis (@MadeinMemphis1) May 13, 2019 When he made his way into the tunnel, Embiid was visibly crying. It was a crushing loss, and you could see how he was affected by it. Joel Embiid was emotional following the Game 7 loss in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/N5bPgKyhHz — ESPN (@espn) May 13, 2019 After the game, head coach Brett Brown said that the experience was something that Embiid would remember forever — and it could be used as a motivating force. For all his struggles with health and conditioning this postseason, Embiid finished Sunday’s game with 21 points and 11 rebounds.<doc-sep>Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was brought to tears shortly after Toronto Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beating jumper ended his team's playoff run on Sunday night. Prior to Embiid's emotional walk to the 76ers' locker room, Raptors center Marc Gasol stopped to console his All-Star counterpart. "Marc has a lot of class," Embiid told reporters after the 76ers' 92-90 Game 7 loss. "Obviously I have a lot of respect for him. ... He was just talking to me and making sure to let me know that I'll be right there at this moment and further in my career. I have a lot of respect for him and he's a great guy." Marc Gasol was one of the first to console Joel Embiid after tonight’s game. Much respect between two competitors 🤝 (Via @nbaontnt) pic.twitter.com/pJNUYlKjrq — Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) May 13, 2019 Embiid fought through multiple illnesses throughout the series, and the 76ers competed hard until the final horn, making the loss even more difficult. "Losing the game that way. Last shot. After a hard-fought game, I feel like we had a chance," Embiid said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "A lot of things go through your mind. And it sucks. I don't know. I can't explain it. It just sucks." In addition to Gasol's kind-spirited interaction with Embiid, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert took to Twitter to defend the 25-year-old for crying after the loss. "Only losers think that crying is a sign of weakness," Gobert tweeted. "Only shows how much of a competitor and winner you are." Gobert famously couldn't contain his emotions when he wasn't included in the 2019 All-Star Game, forcing him to walk away from a media scrum in February. The 76ers now enter the offseason with plenty of questions surrounding their roster, as Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, and JJ Redick are set to become free agents.<doc-sep>“We’re rocking with Jo,” Butler said. “That’s what we need out of him, to always be aggressive. Moving forward, we expect the same thing. Go show why you’re so dominant, night in and night out, on both ends of the floor. He’s a little bit sick, banged-up, so we got a day to get him right.”<doc-sep>Game 7 between the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers was an emotional ride for anyone watching the game, let alone for those playing in it. Neither team led by more than five points for the last quarter and a half, and Raptors star Kawhi Leonard dramatically ended the game with a bouncing buzzer-beater that hung in the air for what felt like minutes. Joel Embiid was no exception, as the Sixers star center left the court in tears following the toughest loss of his career. Embiid was still emotional while walking through the tunnel towards the Sixers’ locker room, where he met up with his girlfriend Anne de Paula. After they embraced and she tried to encourage him, he returned to the locker room and looked up to the sky, as if looking for answers. Give us a guy who cares this much. Give us a guy who pours his heart out after a heartbreaking loss. Thank you, Joel Embiid. You will be back. pic.twitter.com/G2uqTP2Day — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 13, 2019 Athletes often try to keep a tough exterior up, but there’s nothing wrong with players expressing emotions after pouring their heart out all season, playoffs and game. It’s healthy to express feelings from happiness to devastation to frustration, and Embiid has shared plenty along the way. If anything, this can help him improve along the way to reaching the top of the mountain. After the game, Embiid was asked about where the team was in The Process at this point, and he simply said, “I don’t give a damn about The Process.” Story continues “It’s going to be a life memory that, as painful as it feels now, it will help shape his career and give him grater clarity of what this time of the year represents,” Sixers head coach Brett Brown said. “It’s hard to be the last man standing.” There were plenty of emotions after the 76ers dropped Game 7 on Sunday. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>
All you had to do was take one look at Joel Embiid post-game to see what had just happened to the 76ers. Philadelphia was eliminated in gut-wrenching fashion. The Toronto Raptors advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in a classic Game 7, winning 92-90 on a ridiculous buzzer-beater by Kawhi Leonard. Leonard’s shot will go down as one of the most memorable in NBA history. As the Toronto team and fans celebrated, Embiid appeared beside himself as he walked off the court. He was visibly in tears and had to be consoled on the court by a few Raptors players. Marc Gasol was the first to go hug a crying Joel Embiid after the game. The world doesn’t deserve this man. pic.twitter.com/RkZoUK4Ir4 — Made in Memphis (@MadeinMemphis1) May 13, 2019 In the tunnel leading to the locker room, the TV cameras caught Embiid in tears. Embiid is flowing with tears on his way back to the locker room | TNT pic.twitter.com/jY3gP6soKQ — The Render (@TheRenderNBA) May 13, 2019 Embiid finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds in a losing effort. He’s young, and will hopefully be back in this situation again. However, Philly has some choices to make this offseason. Namely, they must decide what to do with Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler, and explore if they want to shake up the team’s core at all. Oh, and head coach Brett Brown may be fired. Meanwhile, the Raptors are one step closer to the NBA Finals. They’ll play the Milwaukee Bucks for the right to go there.