Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid is willing to let bygones be bygones — which is a credit to the professionalism the NBA’s MVP runner-up is showing in the face of a difficult situation regarding his fellow All-Star teammate, Ben Simmons.
After demanding a trade and refusing to speak to the 76ers organization, Simmons is willing to speak with the team and possibly return sometime this week.
Embiid revealed that he received the same kind of silent treatment as Sixers brass did — and it even was longer.
“I personally haven’t talked to him since the season ended,” Embiid said. “Obviously, I tried but I wasn’t as successful as a lot of my teammates have been. Like I said, it’s unfortunate the whole situation happened but like I said, we’re a better team with him on the floor.”
The 76ers may very well continue to search for a trade partner to unload Simmons, but they’ve been unsuccessful for nearly a year. Unless they take a cut in what they’re willing to receive back from a potential suitor, the likelihood of Simmons suiting up in the red, white, and blue of Philadelphia increases with each day.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that locker room when Simmons first walks in. However, Embiid will do what he can to not let it impact the team’s chemistry.
“I think there’s going to be some adjustments but it doesn’t need to be awkward,” he said. “We’re all professionals. We want to win. I want to win. He gives me the best chance to win so that’s what I’m going to go with.
“But as far as coming back and all that, we’ve made a few adjustments and you have to buy in and we’re going to be fine. Last year, we got the No. 1 seed. So like I said, you have to buy in and we’re going to be fine.”
