Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey called out teammate Joel Embiid for being late to a team meeting following the 76ers’ loss to the Miami Heat on Monday, according to a source familiar with the situation. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, emphasized that both players have a deep mutual respect for each other, and Maxey’s remarks were made out of concern for the team’s success. Maxey encouraged Embiid to take on more leadership, but there was no animosity between the two.
The 76ers are struggling with a 2-11 record, having lost four consecutive games and nine of their last ten. They are tied with Washington for the worst record in the NBA. On top of that, the team was fined $100,000 for making public statements, including comments from president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse, that contradicted Embiid’s health status, violating the NBA’s Player Participation Policy.
Joel Embiid has played in only three games this season, while Tyrese Maxey is sidelined with an injury. Offseason acquisition Paul George has also struggled after dealing with his own injury earlier in the season. These three players were expected to be the core of a championship-contending team, but they have not yet played together in a game this year.
Embiid, the reigning MVP for the 2022-23 season, missed the first six games of the season due to a left knee issue. He was also suspended without pay for an incident where he shoved a reporter in the locker room. In the three games he has played, Embiid has been disappointing, averaging just 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting only 32.4% from the field.
During a team meeting, both players and coaches had the opportunity to speak. The players asked head coach Nick Nurse to push them harder, while the coaching staff urged the players to practice with greater focus and attention to detail. Embiid, according to reports, admitted that he was unsure about his role on the team.
The Sixers made several new additions to their roster, including Paul George, who signed a four-year, $211.5 million deal during the offseason. Other newcomers include Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Guerschon Yabusele, and rookie Jared McCain.
Philadelphia was expected to compete with Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite their struggles, the team is only four games behind fifth-place Atlanta, with several teams bunched together in the standings after Cleveland and Boston at the top.
While there is still time for the Sixers to recover and turn their season around, it is clear that a lot of work lies ahead.