Joel Embiid has become quite accustomed to drama at this stage.
Following former teammate James Harden’s recent comments, in which he claimed that Philadelphia restricted him and turned him into a “system player,” 76ers center Joel Embiid addressed the issue.
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Embiid acknowledged Harden’s contributions, stating, “I think he did a lot of great things for us.” He also pointed out that the team had provided Harden with ample opportunities to express his talents, recognizing him as an exceptional player and playmaker.
“I think he did a lot of great things for us,” Embiid said, speaking to reporters after the Sixers’ win over the Raptors, via Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sixers.
“But in my opinion, I just felt like we allowed him to just be himself. And we gave him the ball every single possession, because he’s really good. He’s an amazing player,” Embiid continued. “Obviously being that great of a passer, we gave him the ball. If you were watching the game, we gave him the ball every single possession to just go out and do his thing.”
This was Embiid’s first media interaction since Harden’s trade to the Clippers on Monday. Harden had spent much of the offseason pushing for a trade out of Philadelphia after a public dispute with the president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey.
During a press conference, Harden criticized his role with the 76ers, asserting, “I’m not a system player. I am a system.” In response to Harden’s departure, Embiid expressed his happiness for his former teammate and extended his well wishes for Harden’s future success.
Embiid commented, “I’m happy that the situation got resolved, and I’m happy for him. I hope he has a chance to succeed, make a lot of money, play good basketball, and be able to win. I hope we both make the Finals, but he’s on the losing side of it.”
As for Embiid’s future in Philadelphia, the question of how long he will remain with the team looms large.
