By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Joel Embiid discussed disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers teammate Ben Simmons confirming he would welcome his return to action. Combining forces with the Australian forward would increase his chances of winning the NBA championship, he told Mike Missanelli of 97.5 The Fanatic, relays PhillyVoice.
“Whatever that’s going to help me achieve that, I’m fine with whatever,” he mentioned, “I’ve always said, obviously, we’re a better team with him on the floor. I’m sure a lot of people agree, even if they don’t want to agree, it doesn’t matter, we still are a better team with him on the floor.”
Embiid, 27, has averaged 29.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 0.9 steals per 2021-22 Regular Season contest appearing in 40 games so far into his sixth NBA season. The Sixers currently rank fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, only a couple of wins away from the top seed, despite missing Simmons through the entire 32-21 run.
“I don’t hate anybody and I don’t have any problems with anybody around the league, but let’s say I really hated someone in another team and the front office went and traded for that guy because they believed that we could win a championship. You know what? I have no pride. My goal is to win a championship, I would be fine with it,” added the Cameroonian big man, “I don’t know about how everybody else feels, but to me, I’m trying to win a championship, and whatever it takes to accomplish that, I’m fine with that.”
Regarding the 2021 Playoffs and the events leading Simmons to request a trade during the offseason, Embiid has clearly moved on. He was among the players publicly criticizing Simmons. Philadelphia was eliminated by the Atlanta Hawks in the conference semifinals.
“Everybody’s at fault. But at the end of the day, you got to look at yourself. When we lost, I looked at myself. I knew I wasn’t good enough, I knew I wasn’t healthy enough,” he said, “So I just looked at myself and tried to find ways that I can be better and I can help the team just be better.”
Back in action, the 76ers will tip off a four-game homestand hosting the Phoenix Suns Tuesday.
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