With frustration growing after a 2-11 start to the season, the Philadelphia 76ers held a team meeting Monday night, pointing some of the blame at former league Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, ESPN reported Tuesday.
With NBA championship aspirations after spending more than $400m to put together a “big three” of Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers have started with a thud in last place in the Eastern Conference. And Maxey, in the team meeting, called on Embiid to stop being tardy “for everything” because of the impact his lateness has on the rest of the team, per ESPN.
Because of injuries, illness and a three-game suspension to Embiid, the three have yet to play together.
“Tyrese loves Big Fella, but this is the elephant in the room,” someone in the meeting told ESPN.
Veteran Kyle Lowry reportedly summoned the team and coaches to the meeting after Philadelphia’s 106-89 loss to the Miami Heat.
Embiid apparently accepted the criticism from Maxey, with the pair described by ESPN as close friends. Embiid – who was an All-NBA pick and the MVP in 2022-23 – has played in just three games this season.
Coach Nick Nurse also heard from players that they want tougher coaching, while Nurse’s staff expressed that players need to up their game in practice. Embiid, per ESPN, said he sometimes is confused by what’s going on on the court.
Maxey, signed to a five-year, nearly $204 million offseason deal, strained his right hamstring on 6 November and has been out since but is expected to return soon.
George, a nine-time All-Star, inked a four-year, $212m deal as a free agent in the offseason. A bone bruise in his left knee has limited George to seven games.