Joel: unchained.

[TYO23]

I think Jo pretty much confirmed that it was Gordon who leaked the Maxey-Embiid thing earlier in the season. I doubt it was Lowry or Oubre.

This was one of the main takeaways for me. The article was a rough read. This is a bad organization. Jo is at fault for some things but what organization brings EG back and then want him to mentor VJ?

[Stanford]

I think Jo pretty much confirmed that it was Gordon who leaked the Maxey-Embiid thing earlier in the season. I doubt it was Lowry or Oubre.

This was one of the main takeaways for me. The article was a rough read. This is a bad organization. Jo is at fault for some things but what organization brings EG back and then want him to mentor VJ?

He had a player option

[zaz102]

I think Jo pretty much confirmed that it was Gordon who leaked the Maxey-Embiid thing earlier in the season. I doubt it was Lowry or Oubre.

This was one of the main takeaways for me. The article was a rough read. This is a bad organization. Jo is at fault for some things but what organization brings EG back and then want him to mentor VJ?

That's not why they brought him back. He had a player option. He "re-signed" because it made him more money while costing the Sixers less.

[TYO23]

I think Jo pretty much confirmed that it was Gordon who leaked the Maxey-Embiid thing earlier in the season. I doubt it was Lowry or Oubre.

This was one of the main takeaways for me. The article was a rough read. This is a bad organization. Jo is at fault for some things but what organization brings EG back and then want him to mentor VJ?

He had a player option

Got it. Would still want him out of the locker room…

[sodmoraes]

Doesnt seem he´s in good terms with the sixers...

[Jailblazers7]

The organization is probably not mad at EG for leaking the conversation because they don’t mind it being public. The story is littered with example of Embiid missing physical therapy sessions, practices, etc. The Sixers org doesn’t come away looking good in that piece, particularly during the first half of his career, but it’s hard to not put a huge portion of the responsibility on Embiid when there are clearly enormous gaps in his approach and actions.

[the_process]

The organization is probably not mad at EG for leaking the conversation because they don’t mind it being public. The story is littered with example of Embiid missing physical therapy sessions, practices, etc. The Sixers org doesn’t come away looking good in that piece, particularly during the first half of his career, but it’s hard to not put a huge portion of the responsibility on Embiid when there are clearly enormous gaps in his approach and actions.

Yes, it's Embiid's fault too, clearly.

So then the shortcoming is on management for continuing to rely on this guy when they could have traded him and made it someone else's problem! Someone else Embiid doesn't have trust issues with!!

[FireMorey]

My takeaways were things I already believed about Embiid. That the narrative that he's lazy or doesn't care is dumb and him going out there on one leg to play playoff games proves that. And that at times he didn't take his rehab seriously enough.

The other is that he's too closed off and that makes it extremely hard to be a leader on any team and makes it hard to build relationships and bond. It is what it is. Doesn't make him a bad guy. It's his nature and that doesn't mean he's a lesser human being. But it's hard to be a leader and connect with teammates when you're that guarded and defensive. There's no getting around it.

[mksp]

Yeah, I think the article shows that the Sixers organization has really failed Embiid, but that he also hasn't really taken accountability and hasn't taken the difficult steps required to truly lead this team.

I'm glad he's finally in therapy, but should have started years ago. Being avoidant and closed off doesn't make you a bad person, but it's not a desirable character trait, and it's not one that is capable of leading.

Ultimately I just don't think Embiid ever learned how to manage his body or mind over his career, and his career reflects that. And the Sixers organization is partially to blame for that for not giving him the tools and environment he could succeed in.

What if the Sixers were run like the Eagles, for example? Would Embiid have a better mindset, with better habits? I'd bet.

[Zumramania]

Yeah, therapy for the issues he has can take years but it is good that he started. Good for his life in general. Charles Barkley said a month ago that Brett Brown as Embiid's first coach coddled him and let him behave however he wanted without consequences and that that instilled some poor habits into Joel. He cited this example:

Brett Brown was trying to connect with all the older guys. So, he invited me and Billy Cunningham to practice one day, at the start of training camp. Me and Billy went down there and they were doing light workout stuff, 'Okay, we're training to practice now.' This is the first day of training camp. Joel goes and sits down. The other guys scrimmage for an hour and a half. Billy says, 'We gotta go.' I said, 'Why, Billy?' He says, 'The best player? When they sit down instead of scrimmaging, this team is never going to be successful,'" Barkley said. "Billy was pissed."

Barkley was convinced that Joel would have become the best player in the Sixers history if he was given the right guidance and coaching at the beginning.

[Slacktard]

Doesnt seem he´s in good terms with the sixers...

It doesn't seem like he's on good terms with ANYBODY. It seems like he wants preference and to be the full attention of anyone and if he doesn't get it and things don't go his way he'll pout.

Dude basically cut-out the therapist who worked with him for 9 years, helped to get him back on track after the Sixers medical staff/training let him down early in his career.

Then she has 2 kids and needs to cut back and he pretty much just ghosted her.

It really feels like he wants anyone whether it be personally or professionally to consider Embiid as the priority in their lives.

[ProcessDoctor]

Man that **** was deep. I hope he's okay.

[SixersSince82]

The organization is probably not mad at EG for leaking the conversation because they don’t mind it being public. The story is littered with example of Embiid missing physical therapy sessions, practices, etc. The Sixers org doesn’t come away looking good in that piece, particularly during the first half of his career, but it’s hard to not put a huge portion of the responsibility on Embiid when there are clearly enormous gaps in his approach and actions.

100%

Joel should be focused on holding himself accountable, not holding Eric Gordon accountable.

[Iverson Armband]

Yeah, therapy for the issues he has can take years but it is good that he started. Good for his life in general. Charles Barkley said a month ago that Brett Brown as Embiid's first coach coddled him and let him behave however he wanted without consequences and that that instilled some poor habits into Joel. He cited this example:

Brett Brown was trying to connect with all the older guys. So, he invited me and Billy Cunningham to practice one day, at the start of training camp. Me and Billy went down there and they were doing light workout stuff, 'Okay, we're training to practice now.' This is the first day of training camp. Joel goes and sits down. The other guys scrimmage for an hour and a half. Billy says, 'We gotta go.' I said, 'Why, Billy?' He says, 'The best player? When they sit down instead of scrimmaging, this team is never going to be successful,'" Barkley said. "Billy was pissed."

Barkley was convinced that Joel would have become the best player in the Sixers history if he was given the right guidance and coaching at the beginning.

Barkley should know it’s easy to say what the organization should have done. I’ve got an idea, how about just don’t be a jackass? Is it so hard to be somewhat professional when you get paid a ridiculous amount of money to run up and down a court for a whopping 2 hours a week?

Joel was obviously immature back then (still is), you push too hard and next thing you know he’s pouting and demanding out before he even gets started here. It’s a very difficult and delicate situation with star talents like that, especially during that time period when the organization was grasping for any and all hope to latch on to.

[phillynative]

You hurt his feefees and that's it...
Tip toeing can't be fun for staff and players.

[76ciology]

Ultimately, the “right path” never aligned with Embiid’s personality. That path requires maturity, self-awareness, and putting the team first, traits Tim Duncan embodied. Duncan was disciplined, and even took a pay cut to help his team. Embiid is the opposite.. emotionally driven, self-focused, and prone to justifying his decisions because of his difficult past.

If Embiid had embraced a Duncan-like mindset.. taking therapy seriously, staying in shape, respecting minutes restrictions, pacing himself during the regular season, and skipping the Olympics, things might have been different. But he wasn’t built like Duncan, mentally or emotionally. He came into the league with a different personality and baggage from a darker chapter in life.

[FireMorey]

All of this is a lot for an organization to put up with. All the effort it takes to make things work with this guy. The tiptoeing. The coddling. The injury management. The snail's pace at building trust. Not necessarily saying that as a knock on Embiid. That is who he is. But the reality is that's a lot to deal with. Now I think the Sixers dealt with a lot of that poorly. But regardless, even if they had dealt with it perfectly, that would have been extremely taxing and tiresome to deal with. And if Embiid were 10% less of a player or had 10% less potential then I think they would have traded him a long time ago. The only reason they put up with all this is because of how special he is. No organization would want to deal with this much effort to make things work for one player otherwise.

[76thBearCub]

Never wanted to dislike the guy. I don't on a human level. Just a bummer and a what coulda been.

[76thBearCub]

Reading it while doing other things, but "at the start of Embiids tenure with the 76ers, his rehab had been overseen by an intern"...

Embarrassing, inept, **** yikes.

[Stanford]

A lot of the stuff in this article reinforces why i voted "pessimistic" in that poll, despite being optimistic about a lot of the players. Bad organization.