Yesterday, Joel Embiid took to social media to deny the long-held belief that he and fellow Sixers starter Ben Simmons do not get along well — or at all. “I love playing with Ben,” he tweeted, contending that members of the media have been using his name to perpetuate a false narrative. “Stats don’t lie. He’s an amazing player and we all didn’t get the job done.” And, on this note, he’s right. No one player was responsible for the failure of the East top seeds to move past the conference semifinals.
That said, Embiid wasn’t exactly effusive in his support for Simmons back when the latter needed it. In the aftermath of the Sixers’ disappointing exit in the 2021 Playoffs, much of the criticism was leveled on the starting point guard for a pronounced failure to make any impact on offense. At the time, he not only withheld endorsement; he fueled the opprobrium with telling quotes. And the fact that head coach Doc Rivers was similarly conflicted didn’t help.
Moreover, Embiid’s backing came after an offseason’s worth of speculation on Simmons’ future. The first overall pick in the 2016 draft wants out, and not for nothing have the Sixers been shopping him around — and actively, to boot. That he hasn’t changed addresses yet is less a function of everybody wanting to run it back than a reflection of the unrealistic windfall the front office expects to get in kind. In a buyer’s market, damaged goods do not move needles.
Which, for all intents, is Simmons — unless and until he proves true to potential. For all the immediate past efforts of Embiid, he remains a question mark. Year in and year out, he had promised to improve on his outside shooting. And year in and year out, he had been found wanting in that regard. His disappearing act in the postseason was merely the latest chapter of a book seemingly without a coherent plot.
Given all the news ostensibly coming out of Simmons’ camp, it’s clear that he wants a change of scenery. It’s probably for the best. The City of Brotherly Love can be unforgiving to its fallen heroes. Embiid, also the target of naysayers not too long ago, preached patience in his defense. Apparently, however, his has run out, and there is no option left but to rebuild it elsewhere.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
