After a successful summer that included signing Paul George, and a few other veterans, in free agency and drafting Jared McCain, there was a lot of excitement about the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Fast forward a few months and the team is mired in a 2-12 start that presents major injury issues and both internal and external drama.
Most recently, star big man Joel Embiid, who was suspended for three games after an altercation with a reporter in the locker room earlier this month, and only played four games, called out the person who leaked details of the team meeting that took place on Monday after the Sixers’ loss to the Miami Heat.
“Whoever leaked that is a real piece of shit,” Embiid said.
After falling to the Heat, the Sixers reportedly met to discuss their early-season struggles. There were complaints about the coaching staff, led by Nick Nurse, and Embiid admitted to being “confused” about the team’s goals. Most notably, though, Tyrese Maxey confronted Embiid about his repeated tardiness and how it affected the rest of the group.
On Wednesday, after the Sixers lost again, this time to the Memphis Grizzlies, Embiid addressed the report and said the whole situation was overwhelming.
“We talked about a lot of things,” Embiid said. “I don’t want to go into details. But that whole thing, that part of it, lasted probably 40 seconds. But it’s Joel Embiid, so things are always going to be blown out of proportion. It’s whatever, though. I’ll take it I’m the reason for it all , so I guess I’ll blame it all.
“Nothing mean was said. I like it when people tell me when I’m not doing well and when I need to be better. That part of it (being late) probably happened once or twice when I wasn’t playing. So. I have to be more good, I have to be right, what am I going to do.
First of all, it’s hard to believe that a young player like Maxey would feel the need to call out MVP in front of the entire team for being late once or twice. Likewise, it’s hard to imagine that someone would leak that information if it happened so rarely.
That said, it makes perfect sense that Embiid is frustrated with the details of this meeting becoming public. More drama and scrutiny is the last thing the Sixers need as they try desperately to get their season back on track.
If there is a silver lining for the Sixers, it is that despite having the worst record in the league, they are just three games out of a Play-In Tournament spot and four games out of fifth place in the Eastern Conference. There’s still time for them to get back into the mix, but only if they can get healthy first.
Wednesday’s matchup with the Grizzlies was a step in the right direction, as Embiid, George and Maxey took the court together for the first time. However, George hyperextended his left knee in the third quarter — the same injury that cost him the first six games of the season — and did not return. There was no official timeline for George, but there’s a good chance he’ll return to the sidelines, and the Sixers will once again have to play shorthanded.
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