Star center Joel Embiid left the door open for Ben Simmons returning to action with the Sixers if Simmons isn’t traded, as he told Mike Missanelli of 97.5 The Fanatic (hat tip to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com). Embiid says he’ll do whatever it takes to win a championship and that the Sixers are a better team with Simmons on the floor.
“Whatever that’s going to help me achieve that, I’m fine with whatever. I’ve always said, obviously, we’re a better team with [Simmons] on the floor. I’m sure a lot of people agree, even if they don’t want to agree, it doesn’t matter, we still are a better team with him on the floor,” Embiid said. “Let’s say – I don’t hate anybody and I don’t have any problems with anybody around the league – [but] let’s say I really hated someone in another team and the front office went and traded for that guy because they believed that we could win a championship. You know what? I have no pride. My goal is to win a championship, I would be fine with it…I don’t know about how everybody else feels, but to me, I’m trying to win a championship, and whatever it takes to accomplish that, I’m fine with that.”
The Most Valuable Player candidate also addressed Simmons’ sensitivity, including an item in a recent story from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Sources close to Simmons told Shelburne that he was upset Embiid seemed to blame him for last season’s playoff loss when Simmons didn’t blame Embiid for his “poor showing” in the 2019 postseason against Toronto. Embiid wasn’t apologetic, instead pointing out that he even criticized himself for the team’s playoff failure last season.
“Everybody’s at fault. But at the end of the day, you got to look at yourself. When we lost, I looked at myself. I knew I wasn’t good enough, I knew I wasn’t healthy enough,” Embiid said. “So I just looked at myself and tried to find ways that I can be better and I can help the team just be better. … So I think at the end of the day, you got to have some self-awareness and kind of look at yourself and see how you can help the team. It’s never about one player, you can’t win basketball one-on-five. You need your teammates, you need everyone to do their part.”
Asked about the rumors that James Harden might become his teammate, either prior to the trade deadline or in the offseason, Embiid said he welcome any top-level player joining the team and puts Harden in that category. However, he also feels the Sixers already have the pieces to compete for a championship.
“He plays for the Brooklyn Nets, and there’s nothing I can do about that,” Embiid said. “That’s like you asking me a question like, ‘Would you love playing with Steph Curry?’ Obviously the top players all make each other better, and he’s in that category of just being able to — and he’s gotten close before. He’s gotten to the conference finals, he’s gotten close to making it to the Finals, but that’s something I really can’t comment about because he plays for another team, and it’s not realistic. We all see the same thing on the Internet, and I don’t know what’s true and what’s not.
“I do believe with the guys we have, my teammates, I do believe that we have a chance together. It’s going to take all of us to play at the highest level possible to compete. Who’s not a fan of, you know, Kevin Durant or Steph Curry or James Harden? They’re all top players in this league.”
Wise words. Thank you Joel.
Ben is a goner. He’s never playing in Philly. Why are you still printing this nonsense. Get some real Sense and chill.
Moreyon is a fool and it will all come crashing down soon. There’s a reason why Harden has never won. Sixers will find that out.
Use to losing your pathetic organization has wilted your basketball IQ friend. Sadly the knick future looks infinitely dismal.
Diva Simmons needs to grow a pair and play.
A pair of what?
Jump shots, probably. He’s still looking for one…
Not only the games dominant player but a eloquent spokesperson as well. Well said jojo.
Actually Ojdiddoit, he’s giving Ben a way out of the corner Ben and his agents have painted themselves in.
Ben the one hurting himself. Losing 33million dollars(he will never get back) and losing a full season in his prime of basketball. Ben just got bad advice from Klutch sports.
@13morgs
I often wonder why ppl assume it’s the agents fault? The tail doesn’t wag the dog. Agents can give advice but still have to do as the client says. Think about this. Paul isn’t making a single dollar more from this saga. With the draft coming up in a few months and free agency not too far away, I promise you, this is the last thing any agent would want on their plate right now.
KnicksFanCavsFan;
A reputable agent would have stepped in long ago. What’s going on is absurd. And who knows, maybe Paul talked to him behind the scenes or encouraged Embiid to take the high road here. But the reality is this – quality NBA organizations want nothing to do with a player like Ben, and will also shy away from any player Paul and his agency represents if possible. They don’t need this sort of chaos.
Embiid said it correctly: “It’s never about one player, you can’t win basketball one-on-five. You need your teammates, you need everyone to do their part.”
I’ll keep writing it – the days of the narcistic Michael Jordan wannabe’s are over. Team basketball is back in the NBA. It wins. Players have to be able to work with their teammates and coaches. Most importantly, they need to grow up and take responsibility for their actions.
@Samuel
Again, an agent works for the player. Ben is one of many players he reps not to mention that he sits on the Board of Directors at CAA and has far more responsibilities. The idea that Paul would suggest the course of action that not only DOESN’T add any more money to his pocket AND can POSSIBLY strain relationships is laughable. And calling one of THEE most successful sports agents as less than “reputable” is an insane thing to say and makes your opinion suspect. Again, Paul gains nothing in this battle thus, counterproductive to business.
@samuel
What patterns have you seen regarding problem players represented by Paul? Say what you want about LBJ but he never demanded a trade, honored his contract, signed short deals if he felt uneasy about ownerships commitment and was a model employee for each team. Sure he made demands but all of it was to win and the team was on board with that. AD? AD signed with him because he wanted out of New Orleans and needed Paul to play the bad guy. This is allllllll about Ben and his mental state. Paul can’t control that and is bound by law to do as his client dictates or drop him and risk possible lawsuits by Ben. Tail doesn’t wag the dog. If Ben makes $100 mil then Paul makes about 4% of that. Who do you really think is the boss?
Dude will potentially get it all back actually. He will go to arb with the team, and the CBA specifically states the team cant fine him for missing games because of mental health problems. He thinks he is getting most of it according to his camps leaks.
That bridge is so torched….I don’t think there’s any chance of that getting fixed. This reeks of Joel knowing he can’t win with the current lineup and needs Ben back for any chance of a title.
@afsooner
Really? That’s what you glean from that? Sounded more like him saying “I think the team we have is good enough but having Ben makes us better and that’s all I care about”.
Embiids team, and Simmons doesn’t like it.
It was a solid veteran interview on 97.5 the fanatic. Answered the questions with honesty but didn’t trash anyone and gave some insight. He really seems to trust Morey and says he doesn’t get involved in trades.
Is there a way to mute Ben Simmons posts?
Embiid handled that SO well!!! He came across (to me, at least) like a man who wants to win, and understands that “us” and not “me” accomplishes that most often.
The 76ers could have used his vocal support of Ben Simmons about 7 months ago when the heat was on. Now. Not so much. Alot of lip service here. Too little, too late.
This shows more how the 76ers fans will fawn over anything this guy says. Whatever…
Embiid has matured a lot the last two seasons and it shines through in this interview. It also shows in his game and new commitment to health.
#FreeBenSimmons
Funny, I read the headline and thought Embiid’s comments were going to be more insulting. But even if Embiid basically gave a professional vanilla answer, he couldn’t muster more than tepid support for Simmons, which was the point of highlighting the word “fine”.
He certainly isn’t helping the trade value here with these comments. Any teams out there want to give their franchise player for a guy that is “fine” to play alongside?
@jerbear
the market isn’t tepid because anything Embiid says. these GMs aren’t stupid. more than likely thei don’t value Ben enough to offer their franchise player. also, I’m assuming that most teams that want him wish to add him to their current mix w/o losing their best player. that’s the difficulty.
I’m responding more to the notion what Embiid said was so great. You are correct, the market is influenced by so many factors… but primarily the ability to fit in with a new team and win games. Embiid’s comments here basically reinforce the idea that Simmons is worth pursuing, but not enthusiastically. This doesn’t help the situation. More covering his a$$.
Rich Paul knows that Simmons sits out who already got paid it’s now time for Maxey to star, now Maxey will get paid.
the more time goes on the more the maturity gap between Embiid and Ben is more and more evident. Joel is clearly one of the most mature guys you will find. a real treasure to this team. Ben? Just a massive diva.