The Philadelphia 76ers, led by Joel Embiid, have had a disappointing start to the 2024-25 NBA season with a 2-12 record. There are rumors of tension in the locker room, especially between Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. While it’s unclear who’s at fault, Stephen A. Smith believes fans are more likely to side with Maxey over Embiid during this conflict.
Recent reports suggest that Joel Embiid is now under fire for his recent actions and attitude. Embiid has already faced tension over his injury, missing the first nine games of the season. Appearing on ESPN’s First Take, Smith claimed that there have been whispers about the townsfolk being upset with Embiid.
This sentiment emerged after news broke of a heated confrontation between Embiid and star teammate Tyrese Maxey. According to Smith, many people may side with Maxey if asked to choose between the two.
He said, “If that man called Joel Embiid out, and you have, you’re at a point where you got to side with somebody, the city of Philadelphia is gonna side with Tyrese Maxey… You have people in Philadelphia telling me this, he’s changed since he’s got his bag… One person wrote to me they said he’s basically giving Sixers fans his a** to kiss.”
Smith emphasized that Joel Embiid’s actions, especially after signing his $192 million contract, have significantly changed. Even a former NBA star seemed to agree with this, which showed that people were having more and more questions about Embiid’s ability to lead the team.
Gilbert Arena Slams Joel Embiid
Gilbert Arenas recently criticized Joel Embiid on his podcast, *Gil’s Arena*. He expressed frustration with Embiid’s actions, particularly during a recent conflict with teammate Tyrese Maxey. Arenas claimed Embiid’s behavior was hurting team morale.
He said, “The problem with him is going to always be [that] he does enough individually for us not to look at him…I’m saying. He needs the average to get this team to another level.”
He added, “When you have a star that acts like [Joel Embiid], you can’t win. You’re late every day, you’re eating bad, you’re doing it – there’s a reason your talent helps you to a certain extent… I want you to be a professional like everybody else… You can show up.”
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