Joel Embiid won’t reach out to Ben Simmons if the Sixers keep him at trade deadline

Embiid believes his job is to challenge teammates who show up and play every night, not go out of his way to speak to Simmons.

Sixers center Joel Embiid waits to shoot the basketball as teammate Sixers guard Ben Simmons shoots a free throw before Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semifinals on June 14, 2021 in Atlanta.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

by Keith Pompey

Published Feb. 9, 2022, 9:33 a.m. ET

Joel Embiid’s growth into a leadership role for the 76ers this season is undeniable.

The MVP front-runner has used his voice to address issues both on and off the court. But he does not feel any responsibility to reach out to Ben Simmons if the disgruntled point guard remains a Sixer past Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.

“Like I’ve been saying since the season started, I’m happy,” Embiid said Tuesday night. “... If someone wants to play, they’re welcome. We got guys here that want to be here, that show up every single night.

“And like I said, I don’t know what other type of word I can use, but I get paid to bring results and win games. I don’t get paid to babysit Tyrese [Maxey]. I get paid to challenge him to try to help me win games. I get paid to do the same thing to Tobias and all the other guys, and they respond every single time.”

That was a transparent mouthful, considering Simmons believed Embiid and coach Doc Rivers threw him under the bus with their comments following a 103-96 Game 7 loss to the visiting Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. They were the final straws that led to Simmons asking for a trade and deciding not to play this season.

With 3½ minutes remaining and the Sixers trailing, 88-86, Simmons drove to the basket past Danilo Gallinari but passed up an open dunk underneath the basket, dishing the ball to Matisse Thybulle, who was fouled by John Collins. Thybulle made 1-of-2 free throws.

Afterward, Embiid, who committed eight turnovers, was asked to identify the game’s turning point.

“We had an open shot and we made one free throw and we missed the other,” he said. “Then they came down and scored and we didn’t get a good possession on the other end and Trae [Young] came back and he made a three and then, from there down four.

“And then I got — it’s on me. I turned the ball over, tried to make something happen from the perimeter. But I thought that was the turning point.”

Embiid doesn’t feel he said anything wrong or that he should apologize for his comment. The franchise player said his teammates know it’s never personal when he challenges them.

Embiid added that anybody is welcome to play with the Sixers if they want to be a part of the team.

“But you got to show up,” he said. “You got to want to be there. And I’m sure everybody is going to accept whoever that is. But to answer your question, I’m just worried about the guys that are here.

“And if you are here, I’m going to challenge you. We’re going to challenge each other to be better and try to win a championship.”