Joel Embiid seems to be the most unlucky NBA MVP in recent history with his injury concerns and lack of stability on the team. At the beginning of the summer, analysts were predicting that the 76ers’ front office might no longer ‘trust the process’ with Embiid.
Now, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, a prominent source for the 76ers, claims that Joel Embiid might know that his time with the 76ers may be nearing its end. In his recent interview with Sirius XM, Pompey made a daunting revelation about the former MVP.
“I think Joel may know that the end is near, and this is just me saying, and is kind of like explaining to the people what he’s been going through. Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain and how much they’re going through.”
“The thing I took from it was, no matter who is there, the culture is the same. And I feel like Joel Embiid knows that, it may not be this season, but the end is near. And maybe he feels as though he can’t play at the level that he used to.”
“I could be wrong; he could come out and have another MVP season. But that was my takeaway as to questioning why you came out with this article at this particular time, when in the past, you always said I’m good.”
Joel Embiid recently had a tell-all interview with ESPN where he made some shocking claims about the 76ers and himself. Like the fact that James Harden no longer speaks to him, or knowing who leaked the controversial team meeting to the press. Pompey seems to feel like this is a cry for help from Embiid that he can no longer do it all on his own.
Ben Simmons, who fell from being an All-Star caliber player to a rotation player. James Harden, who left the 76ers due to his strained relationship with Daryl Morey, and now Paul George, who is almost as injury-prone as Embiid himself.
Embiid has never seen a stable No. 2 option on the team in his prime days. And when he has someone like Tyrese Maxey taking the All-Star leap, Embiid is sidelined with injuries. Tough luck seems to follow Embiid every season.
Earlier this summer, Bill Simmons claimed that the 76ers’ front office could be at the thin end of the rope in terms of their patience with Joel Embiid. At age 31, Embiid is entering year 10 of his NBA career, after missing the first two seasons of his career due to injury. He missed most of last season and averaged only 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in the 19 games he played.
In terms of the general pattern of NBA players, Embiid is beginning the downward trend of his prime years in the league. He may not be capable of single-handedly carrying the 76ers anymore. They may look to maximize on his trade value as much as possible before it is too late.
Will this season with Maxey and Paul George be his last season with the 76ers? Has the front office reached the limit of its patience with Embiid and his abilities to bring a potential NBA championship to Philadelphia for the first time since 1983? Pompey’s assertions seem to have cast a shadow of doubt over Embiid’s future with the team.
