While the Boston Celtics were focused on their pursuit of winning a Championship last season, Joel Embiid made it clear that he is not fond of the green team. During the NBA Finals broadcast, he confessed that he “can’t stand them” and hopes for the Sixers to get better this summer so that he can compete for a Championship himself. And they’ve undeniably gotten better. Recruiting Paul Geoge after months of convincing, even risking tampering violations, Embiid became a catalyst for the famous move. Sure enough, he looks ready for the challenge as the former MVP took a massive dig at Jayson Tatum, downplaying his first title win.

Making an appearance on The Check Ball Show, Joel Embiid explained how it takes a lot more than just being a great player to win a Championship in the NBA, “Winning is hard, it’s not easy. Doesn’t matter how good you are individually. I don’t care who you are.  I don’t care if you average 40. I don’t care if you average 50. If everybody else is not on the same page, not just 1 to 5, 1 through 12, or at least the guys that play in the playoffs, you’re not gonna win.”

Backing his point, Embiid’s good friend and NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen revealed how the big man gives him a tough time about Tatum, “He always gives Jayson trouble or he gives me trouble about Jayson ‘Well yeah, he’s got a super team’ you know what I mean. ‘If I had a super team too, I’d win too.’”

Although with a smile on his face, Embiid stood by Drew’s imitation of him, saying, “I tell him the same thing. If I go 5 for 20, we get blown out.” While Boston clearly had the best team this year, many could argue that Tatum’s road to his first title might have been the easiest one for any superstar. Surrounded by elite talent like Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and more, JT was not forced to carry the team on his shoulders. Averaging only 22.2 points in the Finals, he wasn’t even the best player on the floor most nights. And that in a way proves The Process’ point about how important it is to have talented teammates to win.

Joel Embiid anticipates that he won’t need to “exert” himself after PG luxury

“I can’t stand them, I hate Boston. Great city, great fans, obviously they got some great players, but it hurts me a lot. So, hopefully, this offseason we find a way to get better, add some pieces.” This was Joel’s statement while sneakily side-eyeing Paul George, who was sitting next to him during the NBA Finals coverage. And it might have changed the course of his career. Soon after that incident, PG signed a four-year $212 million deal to join the Sixers, forming arguably the most lethal Big 3 with Embiid and Maxey.

While it puts the Sixers in a great position for next season, it also puts a lot of pressure on Joel Embiid to win his first ring. “The way I feel about that is obviously you gotta win, I mean, it’s always been like that, to be up there to be the best, to be one of the best, you gotta win,” Embiid said.

So, the same thing Embiid accused Tatum of could become a curse for him, as now he is also a part of a super team. And the former MVP is looking forward to playing with the two superstars as it might end the biggest concern he has had in his career. “It makes me excited because I think that actually might keep me healthy. I don’t have to exert myself and make sure I have to have 30 40 every single night for us to win.”

With two elite scorers in PG and Maxey alongside him, Joel Embiid can now occasionally take the backseat and Philly might still end up winning! More importantly, it will keep the big man healthy enough to play the entire year and not miss time, like he usually does when playoffs arrive. Do you think he can finally win the long-awaited title now that PG has joined his camp?