Joel Embiid is the proud party pooper. Boston Celtics are celebrating for the first time since 2008, their 18th title, and are now officially the franchise with the most championship banners surpassing the Lakers. The Process is letting them take this one but not without a mild warning. Before the conclusive Game 5, Embiid stopped by ESPN’s NBA Countdown to let it be known that he will be the reason why the Celtics might have another drought spell. Just as we’re thinking if this is the restart of the Celtics dynasty, Embiid pulled the brakes.

“I don’t think so,” Embiid said on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” before Game 4 on Friday when the Celtics suffered a blowout loss instead of sweeping the Mavs. “Not with the new CBA [Collective Bargaining Agreement] and then you also gotta understand the whole East was kind of hurt this year, myself included.”

He not so indiscreetly implied that the Celtics had an easy ascent in the east. A lot of cynics have claimed that teams like the 76ers and Heat were shorthanded with injured players compared to a stacked Boston. Embiid was on a high-scoring streak when a knee injury derailed his season right before the All-Star break. But he says, “I just gotta get a little bit of luck, stay healthy, and I know everything else is going to take off.” He’s on the mend too and ready for next season where he’s not going to let the defending champions record back-to-back wins.

Yet if he was healthy and playing, would Celtics have not made it to the finals? No one can say for sure. After all, everyone’s a general after the war. So Embiid’s not very popular in Boston right now. The mention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement raised a few eyebrows though.

Keep in mind that when Embiid made those comments, Boston was at 3-0 in the series and projected to sweep the Mavs. Before they suffered a blowout loss, fans didn’t take Embiid’s comments kindly. They pulled out the receipts to counter his claim.

Where Joel Embiid is off the mark

In 2023 the NBA and NBPA decided on a new collective bargaining agreement that introduced a second ‘apron.’ It restricts teams from overspending but with some smart structuring, the cap space is greater. Among most teams in the league, the 76ers have the greatest advantage from the new CBA since trading James Harden and signing Tyrese Maxey to a max contract. They retain Embiid for the next season and some advantageous draft picks.

Whereas a team like the Atlanta Hawks might have to sacrifice some assets for financial flexibility. However, as several fans pointed out, Embiid’s claim has a large discrepancy. The ‘apron rules’ don’t impact the Boston Celtics. ESPN insider, Bobby Marks pointed out two key factors working in the NBA champions’ favor – “1st rd. picks- Boston has 7 of their own first in the next 8 years,” and, “Depth!!- Pritchard, Hauser and Horford all under contract for next season.” As NBA veterans said that in comparison to the Mavericks, Celtics has no shortage of powerhouses at the moment and they have room for more.

So the only thing Embiid realistically has going for him is his health. He needs to bounce back and put his money where his mouth is next season.