Joel Embiid is tired of the media pushing a nonexistent rivalry between him and Philadelphia 76ers teammate Ben Simmons. The big man has spent his entire career playing alongside the point guard, trying to win a championship for the franchise.
Things haven’t gone in their favor so far, but the Cameroonian wants to run it back with the Australian. According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports, Embiid and Simmons’ relationship hasn’t been good for quite some time. After last season, the situation got a lot worse.
But the issue was deeper than one play, one game, one series. The Simmons-Embiid rift had been escalating, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation.
Embiid reacted to these rumors, sending a series of tweets calling out the media for trying to push this narrative. He made it clear that he loves playing with Simmons, and stats are there to prove he’s a terrific player.
Sources “Trust me bro”!! Stop using my name to push people’s agendas. I love and hate drama. I love playing with Ben. Stats don’t lie. He’s an amazing player and we all didn’t get the job done. It’s on me personally. I hope everyone is back cuz we know we’re good enough to win
Sources “Trust me bro”!! Stop using my name to push people’s agendas. I love and hate drama. I love playing with Ben. Stats don’t lie. He’s an amazing player and we all didn’t get the job done. It’s on me personally. I hope everyone is back cuz we know we’re good enough to win https://t.co/1kq9VI9byE
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2021
He didn’t stop there and told fans to stop believing everything they see on the media. Joel knows how crazy reports can be to try to divide a team.
From my own experience, y’all have no idea how much this media makes up stuff for followers and shame on you for believing them.
From my own experience, y’all have no idea how much this media makes up stuff for followers and shame on you for believing them.
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2021
Moreover, JoJo addressed Philly fans, urging them to improve their behavior at the arena, reminding people how he was treated a couple of seasons ago, where his own fans booed him.
I haven’t forgotten but 2 years ago, I got booed, people in Philly wanted me to be traded. I even shushed them. Only the real ones didn’t but I just put the work in that offseason to be better cuz I knew I wasn’t playing up to my potential. Philly fans, y’all also gotta be better
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2021
For clarity, I love the criticism, I love when I’m told I can’t do something. It makes me work harder to prove everyone wrong but not everyone is built like that.
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2021
After a tumultuous 2021 postseason, the Sixers find themselves in a tricky position. Simmons is reportedly forcing his way out of the team, saying he won’t participate in training camp, creating more rumors about where he’ll play next and what the Sixers will do to get the most revenue they can for Ben.
This situation gets more heated by the day.
