The NBA world was not happy after 76ers superstar Joel Embiid dodged an ejection after kicking Nets center Nic Claxton in the groin early in Game 3 of the teams’ first-round playoff series.

After the two men got tangled under the basket early in the 76ers’ win and Embiid fell to the ground, he appeared to kick Claxton directly between the legs – but he was addressed a Flagrant 1 foul instead of a Flagrant 2, which allowed him to remain in the game.

Many, including the “Inside the NBA” crew, believed the play warranted an ejection – especially after the stomp that got Warriors star Draymond Green ejected (and suspended) during this week’s game against the Kings.

“I thought he should have been ejected. I thought that was a Flagrant 2. I think his was worse than Draymond’s,” Barkley said on the show.

“…I thought he tried to kick [Claxton] in his private parts. He should have gotten ejected.”

“Thank you,” Shaquille O’Neal said in agreement.

Later in the game, however, the officials ejected James Harden after he appeared to elbow Nets’ Royce O’Neale in a similar area to where Embiid kicked Claxton.

Harden’s foul appeared far less egregious than what Embiid did.

The Sixers still were able to rally for a 102-97 victory, erasing a five-point deficit they faced with about two minutes left in the game.

Embiid made a key block on a Spencer Dinwiddie layup in the final seconds that preserved a two-point Sixers advantage.

It remains to be seen if Embiid – or Harden, for that manner – will face additional punishment from the league as a result of the kick.

Barkley and O’Neal certainly seem to think Embiid should.