Tag: Joel Embiid

Sixers ranked 8th in way too early power rankings for 2024-25 season

The Philadelphia 76ers are ranked 8th in the way-too-early power rankings for the 2024-25 season.

The 2023-24 season is done and now the attention turns to 2024-25 as the Philadelphia 76ers–and everybody else in the NBA–looks to make improvements in order to take down the Boston Celtics.

The Sixers have a star duo in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to build around and have a ton of cap space to acquire another max player. There will be big names such as Paul George, LeBron James, and others as they look to land the big fish and move forward in the East.

In anticipation of the 2024-25 season, the way-too-early power rankings have been released by Bleacher Report, and the Sixers are ranked 8th on the list:

The Sixers could carve out nearly $65 million in cap space this summer to acquire a star via free agency or a trade, but they aren’t guaranteed to land one. Embiid’s lengthy injury history casts some doubt over the Sixers’ outlook next season, too.

But the healthy version of Embiid has been as dominant a scorer as we’ve ever seen, and the chemistry between he and Maxey is still growing. Even if the Sixers can’t build a Big Three this offseason, the two stars-and-depth model has proven effective in the past.

It will be interesting to see what the Sixers will do in this offseason as Philadelphia looks to build a title contender of its own. The foundation of Embiid and Maxey is a great start as they are two of the top players in the league, but it’s now about building the right roster around them.

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NBA draft rewind: Sixers select Joel Embiid with No. 3 pick in 2014

The Philadelphia 76ers found a superstar in Joel Embiid with the No. 3 pick in 2014.

With the 2024 NBA draft approaching quickly–Round 1 of the draft is set for June 26–now is the time to look back at some of the previous draft picks the Philadelphia 76ers have made in recent years.

The Sixers entered the 2014 draft looking to find the centerpiece for their rebuild. They needed that superstar player at the top of the draft to build around and they found it in Kansas big man Joel Embiid.

The Sixers selected the big fella No. 3 overall and despite him missing the first two full seasons of his career, Embiid has turned into one of the best players in the league. He made his debut in the 2016-17 season and averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. He was marvelous in the 31 games he played and finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Since then, Embiid took home the MVP award in 2023 and has made the All-Star team seven times. He has won the scoring title twice and scored a franchise-record 70 points against the San Antonio Spurs in January 2024.

Embiid has dealt with unfortunate injuries throughout his career, but when healthy, there is no doubt about his place in the NBA. Looking back at the pick, it has been the right one and it’s a move the Sixers would likely make again.

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Knicks’ Jalen Brunson defends, gives love to Sixers star Joel Embiid

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson defends and gives love to Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is one of the top players in the league, but he also has a bad playoff reputation as he has yet to get past Round 2 in his career. That’s due to a number of reasons–injuries being the main one–but it’s an unfortunate tag he has been given.

Embiid once again labored through an injury in the 2024 playoffs and it hurt the Sixers in their Round 1 loss to the New York Knicks. Playing with a meniscus injury in his left knee and through Bell’s Palsy, Embiid was still dominant as he averaged 33.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, but he seemed to run out of gas in the fourth quarters of games.

Knicks star Jalen Brunson hopped on with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks and defended Embiid from criticism while showing him love:

Joel is unfairly discussed. He is the one player where I played against him, I’m like ‘Damn. This dude is dominant.’ When I first played him in Dallas, he just controlled the entire game from the center position. I haven’t seen that in person so I’m just like–he controlled the game. He controlled the pace of the game. He just controlled it. Me seeing now ‘Oh, Joel hasn’t got past the second round or Joel hasn’t done this.’ Joel has done some crazy things. MVP, the numbers he puts up, all that stuff. He’s done crazy things.

Embiid and the Sixers will look to once again make another run at a title in the 2024-25 season. President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has a ton of cap space and it is his responsibility now to make sure he gets Embiid and Tyrese Maxey the help they need to get it done in the Eastern Conference.

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Joel Embiid went on ESPN’s NBA Finals pregame and promptly trashed the Celtics

There’s clearly no love lost between Joel Embiid and the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics enter Game 4 of the NBA Finals with a chance to clinch their 18th overall championship and first since 2008.

With a 3-0 lead against the Dallas Mavericks in the series, Boston certainly has history on its side. But not everyone is excited about the prospect of a Celtics title, particularly one of the biggest stars in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid went on ABC’s NBA Countdown ahead of Game 4, and when asked for his thoughts on Boston’s likely championship, he didn’t mince words.

“I can’t stand them. I can’t stand them. I hate Boston. Great city, great fans, they’ve got some great players, but it hurts me a lot.”

If the Mavericks are going to avoid disappointing Embiid, it’s going to take a truly special run. No team in the history of the NBA playoffs has ever won a series after falling behind 3-0, and only four have even forced a Game 7 — most recently, Boston in last year’s Eastern Conference finals.

Regardless, it’s clear the dislike for the Celtics is real for Embiid, who is still trying to lead the 76ers to their first title in more than four decades.

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Sixers’ Joel Embiid questions Celtics run to the finals before Game 4

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid questions the Boston Celtics’ run to the finals while also doing some recruiting.

The Boston Celtics are looking to win their 18th NBA title on Friday when they take on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the finals. The Cs enter the American Airlines Center with a commanding 3-0 lead and are looking to finish off the sweep.

Philadelphia 76ers star big man Joel Embiid was a surprise guest on ESPN’s coverage of the finals in Dallas and was asked whether the Celtics have become a bit of a dynasty in the East. It’s fair to wonder when considering they have made the Eastern Conference finals three seasons in a row and made the finals in 2022 and now in 2024.

Embiid had this to say:

I don’t think so. Not with the new CBA and you also gotta understand, the whole East was kinda hurt this year. Myself included.

It is fair to wonder what could have been in the East. Embiid was, obviously, hurt for the Sixers in their Round 1 series loss to the New York Knicks. The Celtics also faced a Miami Heat team without Jimmy Butler, they faced the Cleveland Cavaliers with Donovan Mitchell missing two games, and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton also missing two games in the conference finals.

Embiid and the Sixers will be looking for help. With Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George right next to him on the set, he turned to him when discussing Philadelphia’s future:

I can’t stand them. I hate Boston. Great city. Great fans. Obviously, they’ve got some great players, but it hurts me a lot. Hopefully, this offseason, we find a way to get better and add some pieces.

This figures to be one interesting offseason for the Sixers following the finals.

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ESPN blatantly encouraged Joel Embiid to recruit Paul George during an awkward interview

Joel Embiid and Paul George…future teammates in Philadelphia?

Joel Embiid was an impromptu TV panelist before Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals and his segment may have raised some eyebrows.

During his appearance on ABC’s NBA Countdown, the 2023 NBA MVP joined a panel that included L.A. Clippers star Paul George as well as Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, Malika Andrews and Kendrick Perkins.

Embiid spoke about the upcoming game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Embiid’s 76ers were eliminated before they had a chance to play against Boston in the postseason.

While he called them a superteam, he made it clear that he doesn’t think this is the start of a dynasty because of tighter restrictions with the new collective bargaining agreement.

Embiid said it “hurts him a lot” to see the Celtics have a chance to play for a title, he said that hopefully the 76ers can find some pieces this offseason so it is him with a chance to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy next season.

Shortly after that, Wilbon agreed that perhaps one more piece is exactly what Philadelphia will need.

Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold any punches, though, and suggested that piece is sitting next to him: Paul George, who has a player option in his contract and could become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Philadelphia could create the cap space to sign George if the wing does not agree to a long-term extension with the Clippers.

But seeing it spelled out so plainly on national TV before the NBA Finals was quite a sight.

NBA fans reacted to the segment

 

Joel Embiid, Sixers set to face Magic in October preseason matchup

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers will take on the Orlando Magic in the preseason schedule.

The 2023-24 season is not quite over yet in the NBA. The Boston Celtics currently lead the Dallas Mavericks 3-0 in the finals and will look to close out their 18th NBA title in Game 4 on Friday. On the other hand, Luka Doncic and the Mavericks will look to keep the season alive.

With that being said, preparations are beginning to be made for next season. The Philadelphia 76ers, who will certainly be active in the offseason, are looking to take the next steps in the East with the cap space they have.

The Orlando Magic, an up-and-coming young team in the East, announced their preseason schedule and they will host Joel Embiid and the Sixers on Oct. 18.

The Sixers and the Magic will get a bit of a preview to see how they match up with each other in the exhibition schedule. One has to believe that considering both teams have a ton of cap space they will have a pretty new look out on the floor.

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Sixers’ Joel Embiid seems to question Bucks over Jrue Holiday trade

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid questions the Milwaukee Bucks for the Jrue Holiday trade in the offseason.

The Boston Celtics took a commanding 3-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals on Wednesday with a 106-99 win on the road. They held off a furious Mavs comeback after Dallas cut a 21-point deficit to just two as the Cs are now one win away from their 18th NBA title.

Former Philadelphia 76ers Jrue Holiday and Al Horford played a helping hand in the win. While stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way, both Holiday and Horford made huge plays on the defensive end of the floor and made timely plays on offense.

Sixers big man Joel Embiid took to Twitter to question the Milwaukee Bucks for trading away Jrue Holiday in the big Damian Lillard trade in the offseason.

Of course, Holiday was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Lillard deal. The Celtics then swooped in and acquired him from the Blazers shortly after the trade with Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III heading to Portland.

Holiday and the Celtics will look to finish off a sweep of the Mavericks in Game 4 of this series on Friday.

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Twitter savagely roasted Joel Embiid for simply asking a question about the NBA Finals

Joel Embiid knew exactly what he was doing

NBA fans are ruthless. They will never ever ever let you live down a bad tweet.

If anybody knows that, Joel Embiid knows that. The dude has basically been criminally online through his entire career.

That’s why it’s hard to believe he didn’t know exactly what he was doing when he tweeted in the middle of Game 3 of the NBA Finals about the Bucks simply handing the Celtics the NBA championship.

Everyone was just minding their business watching the game. Then, all of a sudden, this tweet from Embiid comes up out of nowhere.

“Did the bucks give them the championship?” he asked.

Basically, he’s asking if the Jrue Holiday trade is the thing that got the Celtics over the hump. As Robert Zeglinski points out here, Jrue Holiday’s stellar play results from the Celtics’ greatness and not necessarily an indictment on the Bucks. Most teams make that trade 10 times out of 10.

Also, it’s not like the Bucks traded Holiday to Boston. The Trail Blazers did! So maybe they should take the blame?

I guess Embiid thought this was a fair question to ask, so he did. Fans replied, but they sure didn’t get him any answers. Just snark.

 

Commissioner Adam Silver addresses league’s player participation policy

NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the NBA’s new player participation policy after year 1.

The NBA instituted a new player participation policy in the 2023-24 season in order to deter teams from resting their star players and load-managing them to prepare for the playoffs. The policy stated that a player must play in at least 65 games to qualify for awards at the end of the season.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid suffered through a meniscus issue in his left knee that forced him to miss two months after a procedure. When he did play, the big fella averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks. He was dominant, but only played in 39 games which disqualified him from any awards.

Speaking before Thursday’s NBA Finals, commissioner Adam Silver addressed the policy as the league now moves forward:

When it comes to injury data, we’re constantly studying it, trying to see if there’s more than correlation and there’s actually causation. Of course, this past season, even though we had the 65-game rule, largely designed to keep star players on the floor, we had a decrease in injury in star players.

I’m not standing here saying one followed from the other. It just may be happenstance for this season. I think we saw injuries, of course, in the Playoffs this year, but nothing that out of range with injuries we’ve seen in the past.

Silver brought up the playoffs due to the injuries suffered by star players such as Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell, Kristaps Porzingis, and others. The policy has its usefulness, but at the same time, Embiid shouldn’t be penalized for awards because an injury forced him to miss time.

That’s something Silver and the Player’s Association are still figuring out:

I will say just based on one season of data, we’re happy with the 65-game rule. There was sort of a parade of horribles that had rolled out, that had been rolled out, that everybody was saying, were threatening were going to happen. Those things didn’t happen.

In terms of not just a reduction in star player injuries this year, but it worked to the extent we saw star players on the floor more. That was the goal.

We have the same incentives, and that is to keep star players on the floor.

It will be interesting to see if there will be any tweaks to the policy as the offseason continues and the 2024-25 season rapidly approaches.

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