“I’m probably the most hated guy in the league,” Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid tells the Check Ball Show. “I don’t know why…”
Embiid thinks he’s the most hated player in the league pic.twitter.com/4kLrQ8F3GI
— Sleepi (@EmbiidIsHere) July 24, 2024
“I’m cool,” he presses. “I don’t know what there is to hate about me. I feel like a lot of people can relate to my story and what I’ve been through.”
Joel Embiid Makes ‘Most Hated’ Claim, Here’s Why It’s True
Embiid is a particularly interesting case study, as he entered the NBA with a lot of pomp and circumstance.
The Process Begins
After moving stateside in 2010, the Cameroon native played for a number of prestigious programs.
First there was Montverde Academy, long considered to be a high school basketball powerhouse. Then, Embiid committed to Kansas, which was then the second-best college basketball team in the country behind Kentucky. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 Team selection in his sole season with the Jayhawks, Embiid was earning predraft comparisons to Hall of Fame inductee Hakeem Olajuwon.
However, the train started to go off the tracks.
Embiid was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back ahead of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Prior to the 2014 NBA Draft, he underwent surgery for a broken right foot. Due to his slow recovery and a follow-up procedure on his foot, he ended up missing his first two seasons. During this time, the infamous Sam Hinkie developed a reputation for playing the long game. So much so that, when Embiid finally returned to the court, he adopted the nickname ‘the Process.’
With that being said, up until the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Embiid was one of the most popular players in the NBA.
At 7-foot-0 and 280 pounds, he’s an insanely gifted scorer and defender. Down low, his size and footwork makes him a load to handle. When he’s away from the basket, he’s consistently knocking down shots out to 3-point range. Though he’s prone to getting tunnel vision, he’s capable of making stunning passes. At the other end, a Dikembe Mutombo-inspired finger wag will often follow a big-time block.
Even off the court, Embiid was well-liked. Lighthearted and comical, the only real criticism of him at that point was the one that had been there from the beginning; he’s an injury waiting to happen.
The Turning Point
It all changed around the same time than Ben Simmons’ playmaking instincts led him to be a bit too unselfish in a playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Though it was Simmons’ reputation that was and still is tarnished by his passivity, Embiid’s postgame comments put his character into question (h/t NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Noah Levick).
“I’ll be honest,” Embiid said, “I thought the turning point was when we … I don’t know how to say it, but I thought the turning point was just when we had an open shot and we made one free throw and we missed the other, and then they came down and scored. And we didn’t get a good possession on the other end and Trae (Young) came back and he made a three. And then from there, down four … it’s on me, I turn the ball over and try to make something happen from the perimeter. But I thought that was the turning point.”
As everyone else was on Simmons’ now tender back, it wasn’t the worst comment Embiid could have made. Nonetheless, it’s unbecoming of teammates to blame each other publicly. Simmons clearly felt that way, requesting a trade in the offseason.
Put Up or Shut Up
In an interesting turn of events, Embiid said that the three-time All-Star is “the one who got away” last December (h/t Liberty Ballers’ Dave Early).
However, regardless of his respect Simmons, he placed himself under a larger microscope. Now, there’s an expectation for Embiid to put up or shut up. With the gregarious giant shooting just 45.4 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from 3 in the three playoff series’ he’s played since Simmons left, people are beginning to prefer the latter.
Of course, Embiid has been superb in the regular season. Over the past three seasons, he’s averaged 32.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.6 blocks per game, making 52.5 percent of his field goals and 36.1 percent of his 3s. Yet, these numbers only throw his substandard playoff performances into sharper relief.
For all of his dominance, Embiid’s averaged -6.6 fewer points per game in the postseason than the regular season these last three years. His numbers and skill allow for arguments that he’s a top-5 player in the league but he hasn’t exactly shown up when it mattered.
The Nikola Jokic Debate
A side effect of his shrinking in the spotlight may be that Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is considered the best center in the NBA.
Jokic now has three NBA MVP Awards to Embiid’s one and has won a championship. In the regular season, Embiid has averaged a startling 40.7 points per game against Jokic since 2020-21. For comparison, Jokic has averaged 23.7 points per game against Embiid in that time.
That being said, Embiid has been a curious scratch in two of the last three games the Sixers have had against the Nuggets prior to his most recent injury. This has led to a belief that he’s been ducking the matchups with Jokic, only adding to the animus.
Adding Fuel to the Fire
Just last week, Embiid added fuel to the fire.
First, he suggested that Team USA teammate LeBron James is no longer as dominant as he was in his physical prime. Though this is true, there was no reason to make those comments publicly. With Embiid largely struggling in Team USA’s first couple of exhibition games, it also showed a stunning lack of self-awareness. Soon after, Embiid said if he goes 5-20, would get blown out.
Philadelphia indeed found winning hard without him last season. As the head of the snake, the Sixers usually struggle if he does. Regardless of the veracity of his words though, it comes off as condescending.
In the end, Embiid’s tendency to dog out his teammates and show little dog in big fights is ultimately the reason he’s disliked. Unfortunately, those traits don’t seem to be temporary.
