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Joel Embiid said the Philadelphia 76ers’ offense should go through him.
Despite the fact that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons had only played two full seasons together leading into the 2019-20 campaign, the last few years have been riddled with questions and doubts about whether the two stars of the Philadelphia 76ers can co-exist on a championship-caliber team.
Heading into the NBA‘s restart in Orlando at the end of July, however, Embiid is making it clear what the established pecking order should be for the Sixers.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Embiid says there “should not even be a question” about the team’s offense going through him.
“I know what I’m capable of, and I know what my teammates think of me,” he said in a conference call with the media on Tuesday. “I know I’m capable of carrying the team, so it’s all about me being assertive. If I feel like I’m not getting the ball, I just got to talk to them and do what I have to do.
“But at the end of the day, I should never be in a position to complain about getting the ball, just because of who I am. I believe I can carry the team, and I believe being able to do that, I just got to take matters into my own hands. And obviously, I need to be in positions where I feel comfortable, and I believe my teammates are going to help.”
Embiid isn’t saying anything too controversial; he’s Philadelphia’s leading scorer at 23.4 points per game, as well as its most versatile offensive weapon. As a three-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection and two-time All-Defensive Team selection, he’s clearly the best player on the 76ers.
However, this does very little to quell the chemistry problems this underwhelming Sixers squad has dealt with all season. From Al Horford’s awkward fit to working in Tobias Harris to Simmons’ reluctance to attempt 3-pointers, Embiid’s assertion that the offense should run through him first and foremost — and that he and Simmons have “got to be ourselves” — doesn’t exactly leave much room for compromise.
It’s not time to make a mountain out of a molehill just yet, because these Sixers have a stacked starting lineup that could compete with anyone in this kind of unorthodox playoff setting. But if Philly flames out early in the postseason, or if Embiid is unhappy with how many touches he’s getting, don’t be surprised if these comments are seen again in a different light.