Reigning MVP and well on his way to winning his second consecutive trophy, Joel Embiid is flourishing like never before for three seasons (32.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, 1.1 interceptions) and this coincides with the departure of Ben Simmons.
Traded to Brooklyn in exchange for James Harden during the trade deadline 2022, the Australian now has nothing to do with the player he may have been at the start of his career, under the colors of Philadelphia and alongside “JoJo”.
Embiid, defender and admirer of Simmons
Guest of podcast of Tyrese Maxeyhis new All-Star caliber lieutenant among the Sixers, Joel Embiid had the opportunity to return to his association with Ben Simmons. Two and a half years after their last meeting together, that famous destructive Game 7 against the Hawks, the Cameroonian had only tender words for his former teammate.
“ I was always one of those people who didn't believe that [Ben Simmons] really needed to get a shot because he was so good… It's just a monster “, ensures the current top scorer in the league. “ [En parlant à Tyrese Maxey] He's almost as fast as you… I just thought that if he managed to find a way to shoot 75-80% on free throws, that would have changed everything… »
Bitterness over his departure
Joel Embiid even goes a little further in his remarks, suggesting that the departure of Ben Simmons remains in his throat. He who already did not understand this divorce in March 2022, ensuring that he did his best to keep him with the Sixers, a few weeks earlier…
“ You can talk about what could have happened, the mistakes that were made during the Mikal Bridges Draft for example, but that's just one [des nombreuses erreurs de la franchise]. In any case, I think it was the perfect combination. I think this is the one that got away from us. I hate the way things turned out… », Now declares with bitterness the pivot of Philadelphia, whose speech on the “Simmons soap opera”, initially critical, has evolved over time.
