Joel Embiid was overjoyed when the Philadelphia 76ers finally traded Ben Simmons away to the Brooklyn Nets and brought former MVP James Harden to the team. Embiid has never played with an offensive wizard like James Harden before and was naturally expecting Harden to be the one to shoulder the offensive load alongside him.
However, the 2022 Playoffs proved that Harden can’t do that anymore. Even when Embiid was off the court, Harden kept playing passively while Tyrese Maxey had games where he had heavy contributions offensively. Harden was muted all playoff long, except for his 30-point explosion to beat Miami in Game 4.
Embiid had a harsh declaration on his teammate, openly saying that Harden’s prime was behind him and he was now a playmaker. Joel didn’t expect Harden to come with this mindset and seemed evidently disappointed during his post-game interview.
"I'm sure since we got him, everybody expected the Houston James Harden, but that's not who he is anymore."
Embiid on Harden after the 76ers Game 6 elimination https://t.co/W9EReowHyk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 13, 2022
This has to be a rude reality check for Embiid. Since the trade, Embiid was extremely optimistic about the offensive talent that both he and Harden combine to possess. However, it hasn’t worked out these playoffs. It could also be a larger issue with the roster that even coach Doc Rivers pointed towards. However, Harden not being aggressive is something everyone has been able to see.
Thankfully, Tyrese Maxey is developing into more of a scorer with every game and could be ready to take a leap next season. With Harden excelling as a playmaker, he could create a lot of opportunities to allow Maxey and Embiid to be more impactful as scorers. While that isn’t what Embiid expected, that is what he may get.
Hopefully, this off-season allows Harden to come back with a stronger mindset and in better shape. It would be crucial for what Philly is trying to achieve and for Harden’s quest to win a championship before he retires.
