The 76ers’ season has been one long, painful grind, but this time, it wasn’t another injury update that had fans talking. Instead, it was a little courtside drama, courtesy of former Sixer Georges Niang. And let’s just say—he didn’t hold back.

During Philly’s 132-119 loss to the Hawks, Niang was caught on camera letting Quentin Grimes know exactly how things would be going down if Joel Embiid were still playing. “If Joel was here, your ass would be in the corner. Joel here, you’re in the corner. Tyrese here, you’re in the corner.”

Oof. Whether it was pure trash talk or just brutal honesty, Niang’s words hit hard—because, well, they weren’t wrong. Without Embiid running the show, Grimes and the rest of the Sixers have been forced into roles they might not be ready for.

Grimes, to his credit, put up 26 points and six assists, but it wasn’t the cleanest performance—he shot 7-for-18 and struggled with turnovers. Meanwhile, Niang? He backed up his talk with a rock-solid 20-point night, knocking down five threes just to twist the knife a little deeper.

Joel Embiid’s injury casts a shadow over Philadelphia

As much as Niang’s jab stirred up some controversy, it’s really just a symptom of the bigger issue hanging over the Sixers—Embiid’s knee injury. And that storyline is way more painful than anything Niang had to say.

It’s official: Embiid is done for the season. Again. His left knee just isn’t holding up, and now, there’s real concern about what this means for his future.

His injury timeline has been an absolute rollercoaster. In 2023-24: A torn meniscus limits him to 39 games. He has surgery in February, makes a comeback in April, helps Philly’s playoff push, then wins gold with Team USA over the summer. Then in 2024-25: The knee issues don’t go away. He plays just 19 games before the pain becomes too much. Now, there’s talk of another surgery.

And just like that, the Sixers’ season spirals out of control. With Embiid and Paul George both out for the year, Philly is sitting at 23-47, way out of the playoff picture, just trying to survive the final stretch.

As for the loss to Atlanta? Another tough one to swallow. The Hawks came out firing, took control early, and never looked back. Trae Young did his usual damage with 28 points and 12 assists, while Zaccharie Risacher chipped in 22. Philly just didn’t have the firepower to keep up.

Justin Edwards was a bright spot, though. The rookie dropped 22 points on 8-for-18 shooting, adding a little bit of everything—three rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. But even with Grimes leading the team in scoring, his inefficiency and turnovers made it tough for Philly to build any real momentum.

Now, the Sixers head to New Orleans to close out their six-game road trip, hoping to avoid yet another loss. But let’s be real—at this point, it’s not about winning anymore. This season is about player development, seeing who’s ready to step up, and figuring out what the future holds.

And as for Georges Niang? His comment might’ve just been a little on-court banter, but it also said a lot about where the Sixers stand right now. Without Embiid, they’re still searching for an identity. And for guys like Grimes, that means getting thrown into the deep end—ready or not.