The Philadelphia 76ers are in a bit of a Joel Embiid situation. This season, the Cameroon native has only appeared in 17 games over halfway through the season. Largely due to Embiid’s absences, the 76ers are just 20-34 and own the No. 11 seed in the East. Despite many predicting they would be a top team in the conference, the 76ers are in serious danger of missing the playoffs entirely. Additionally, Embiid may need another knee surgery in the summer, which does not bode well for his or the 76ers’ future. This has led to many thinking Philadelphia cannot build a winner around Embiid, including 76ers great Julius Erving.
In a recent interview, Erving said he does not think the 76ers can win with Embiid as their star.
“You always say it’s not a guy’s fault if his body’s betraying him. But…that’s an excuse…you have to find a way”
NBA legend Dr. J gives his thoughts on Joel Embiid and the state of the 76ers to @TheFrankIsola and @TermineRadio pic.twitter.com/jI2XvjYpXv
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“If he moves to playing one-third of the games, that’s not going to happen. And he just got a new contract. You always say it’s not a guy’s fault if his body’s betraying him. But that’s an excuse. When you’re running an organization and you’re trying to chase for championships, you’re trying to be the leader and inspire the other players, then you have to find a way,” Erving said.
Philadelphia 76ers Legend Julius Erving Makes Brutal Claim About Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid: A Philadelphia 76ers Lifer?
Despite Erving’s comments, it seems likely that Embiid will remain in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. He just signed a new contract in September and has spent his entire career with the 76ers so far. Furthermore, renowned NBA trainer Drew Hanlen, who works with Embiid, recently said Embiid is a Philadelphia “lifer.”
“He’s a lifer, yeah,” Hanlen said about Embiid’s future with the 76ers. “That’s the cool thing about working with some of these guys. I’m fortunate to work with some of these guys. You look at Jayson [Tatum] who gets drafted into Boston, he’s not leaving Boston. He loves Boston, he has a connection with the fanbase, he wants to hang as many banners for the Celtics as he can. Joel, he’s been through the ups and downs of Philly…a lot of ups and downs.”
Additionally, even if the 76ers opted to trade Embiid down the line, it could be difficult. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently spoke about Embiid’s future in Philadelphia. Windhorst said that the one-time MVP is “not tradeable” due to his contract and injury concerns.
As it stands, it seems likely Embiid will remain in Philadelphia for at least a little while longer.
The Last Word On Julius Erving’s Comments On Joel Embiid
Despite Embiid’s individual greatness, the 76ers have constantly been disappointing. During the Embiid era, the 76ers have not made the conference finals a single time. The Kansas alum is turning 31 in March, and his days in the league could be numbered. Regardless, when healthy, Embiid is one of the most dominant players in the game. The 76ers have decisions they must make, including Embiid’s future with the team.
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