James Harden has put the Philadelphia 76ers in a storm. The management was bent on keeping him in the squad, but he wouldn’t budge. This is despite having a beautiful pick-and-roll chemistry with Center Joel Embiid. The 76ers lost to the Celtics in seven games in the East Semis, but the potential with Embiid and Harden looks limitless. Apart from Harden, the Center is also in the win-now mode and after winning the MVP, an expectation of the championship is natural.
Will he ask out of Philly if the team doesn’t get close to the NBA title again? He clears the air on the subject.
Joel Embiid only adds to the confusion
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Joel Embiid has been a part of the Philadelphia 76ers for nine seasons now. He has seen them through a period where they were one of the worst teams in the league. He embraced the former GM Sam Hinkie’s motto “Trust the Process”. Something which he has repeatedly stated and even his Twitter bio says ‘Processing”. However, “The Process” is yet to take the team past even the Eastern SemiFinals in the last six seasons when they have hit the Postseason.
While Embiid has believed in Hinkie’s motto, change has been too slow. However, he has believed in it till recently when he signed a four-year $213 million contract just last year. His game took another flight with James Harden, but Harden’s trade request may have unsettled him lately. In his recent interview with Maverick Carter, the Center proclaimed he wants to win a championship. It doesn’t matter if it is in Philly or somewhere else.
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The “somewhere else” surely raises a lot of question marks. Does it mean that the Center is willing to leave Philly and abandon his much-famed process? It has naturally raised alarm among NBA fans who have been quick to point this out. But it is difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the Cameroonian.
In response to one fan who asked him about the “somewhere else” bit, he asks him to refer to his Twitter name, which states Joel “Troel” Embiid. The “Troel” is the combination of Troll and Joel. He makes a lot of jokes on Twitter and has a reputation for “trolling”.
Buddy Check my middle name https://t.co/m9CtdaK4Kg
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 17, 2023
Thus, the Center is reiterating that he loves to troll and that his wish of winning “somewhere else” is a part of the troll job.
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Is he really trolling?
Embiid claims to not be serious while making the remarks, but is it really so? Considering that he is in his prime and the 76ers have been ways removed from an NBA championship amidst the James Harden trade drama, the desire to move elsewhere is not far-fetched. Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal have become major examples of such desires.
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Is Embiid for real or just having fun? Have your say in the comments.
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